India continues efforts to prevent 'potential ecological disaster' as cargo vessel fire continues on 4th day

ANKARA

Indian naval and coast guard teams continued efforts Thursday to extinguish a fire aboard a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel burning for a 4th consecutive day off the southern state of Kerala, as authorities warned of a “potential ecological disaster.”

The container ship Wan Hai 503, en route to Mumbai from Colombo, caught fire on June 9 following a reported explosion inside a container, Indian officials said. The ship, 270 meters long with a draft of 12.5 meters, was located about 144 kilometers (90 miles) off the Kerala coast when the incident occurred.

Rescue teams are trying to establish a towline to pull the vessel away from the coast to prevent a wider environmental threat.

“The situation remains critical and is being monitored continuously,” India’s Defense Ministry said in a statement issued late Wednesday.

The Wan Hai 503 is carrying 2,128 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous materials, posing a high risk to marine ecosystems and shipping routes.

The ministry said the Indian Coast Guard winched five salvage specialists and an aircrew diver onto the vessel on June 11 to assist in towing operations.

“Intensive firefighting efforts by ICG have significantly reduced visible flames, with only smoke now seen across the cargo holds and bays. However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel tanks,” the statement added.

Five Coast Guard ships, two Dornier aircraft, and a helicopter are currently deployed alongside two ships from the Directorate General of Shipping.

The Indian navy earlier rescued 18 of the 22 crew members on board. Four remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Singapore’s CNA news outlet reported Tuesday that all cargo on board had been “properly declared.”