The Indian Navy recently executed a critical operation to assist the MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship that has been engulfed in flames since June 9, 2025. Despite rough seas and challenging weather, a salvage team was deployed to the burning ship to initiate towing efforts and prevent it from drifting closer to shore.
The vessel caught fire off the Kerala coast while travelling from Colombo to Mumbai after one of its containers exploded.
The Indian Navy used a Seaking helicopter from the Southern Naval Command in Kochi to lower the salvage team onto the vessel. The operation was complex due to adverse conditions, including strong winds and the ongoing fire.
“The salvage team, which embarked the Seaking helicopter at IN_Garuda, Kochi, was winched down the vessel on 13 Jun 25, amidst challenging weather & sea conditions, and fire onboard,” the Indian Navy stated in a post on X.
Once onboard, the team successfully connected a tow rope to the tug vessels Offshore Warrior, Garnett, and Water Lily. After completing the task, the team was safely extracted by the same naval helicopter.
Towing operations began on June 13, moving the MV Wan Hai 503 farther from the Indian coastline. By Saturday morning, June 14, 2025, the ship was approximately 40 nautical miles from land, up from 27 nautical miles earlier. However, heavy weather has slowed the towing speed to just 1.5 knots. “The towing operations have commenced. Due to heavy weather, towing speed is restricted to 1.5 knots,” a defence statement shared on X confirmed.
The operation involves multiple vessels for support and safety. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships Saksham, Samarth, and Vikram, along with the Indian Navy’s INS Sharda and the offshore support vessel MV Triton Liberty, are escorting the towing tugs. The ICG is working closely with the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure the vessel remains at least 50 nautical miles from the Indian coast until its owners determine its next steps, by international maritime protocols.
The fire, which began after a container explosion, remains a significant challenge. Of the 22 crew members onboard the MV Wan Hai 503, 18 have been rescued, but four remain missing, adding urgency to the operation. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are collaborating with maritime agencies to manage the crisis and protect the coastal environment.
“This marks a major stride in mitigating a hazardous situation and safeguarding our coastal environment,” the defence statement emphasised. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a public advisory after reports that containers from the vessel may wash ashore in the southern parts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam districts.
