A Singapore-flagged container ship, MV Wan Hai 503, experienced a major explosion underdeck early Monday morning, June 9, 2025, while it was sailing 78 nautical miles off Beypore, near Kochi. The blast was first reported around 10:30 am by the Maritime Operations Centre in Mumbai to their counterparts in Kochi.
According to Defence PRO, the underdeck explosion has left four crew members missing and five others injured, triggering a large-scale emergency response involving the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
Ship Was En Route From Colombo to Mumbai
The 270-metre-long vessel, with a draught of 12.5 metres, had departed Colombo on June 7 and was expected to reach Mumbai (Nhava Sheva port) on June 10. At the time of the incident, the ship was transporting containerised cargo and had a total crew of 22 onboard.
The coordinates of the incident place the ship in position 315 from Kochi at 130 km distance. The cause of the explosion remains unclear at this stage.
Indian Navy & Coast Guard Launch Rescue Ops
Indian Navy responded swiftly by deploying INS Surat and planning an aerial sortie using a Dornier aircraft from INS Garuda to assess the situation from above. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard has mobilised an aggressive rescue effort.
A Coast Guard Dornier (CGDO) aircraft has been tasked for immediate assessment. In addition, ICGS Rajdoot (from New Mangalore), ICGS Arnvesh (from Kochi), and ICGS Sachet (from Agatti) have all been diverted to assist in the rescue and containment operations.
CG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai diverted MV One Marvel, which recovered 18 of the crew. Of the 18 crew rescued, one is reported to have sustained serious injuries. 04 crew (02 Taiwanese, 01 Indonesian and 01 Myanmarese) are missing from the time of explosion and their fate is being ascertained by assets deployed. ICG Dornier aircraft is maintaining overhead the vessel for real-time assessment
The vessel is presently adrift and firefighting efforts by the Indian Coast Guard have commenced to bring the situation under control. The details of the cargo onboard are being ascertained to determine the nature of fire and the potential risks involved during firefighting operations.
ICG is maintaining coordination with DG Shipping, state administration and the vessel owners to devise the response plan for the evolving situation. At present, the vessel is far from shore and all efforts will be undertaken to deter the vessel from closing in to the coast in coordination with stakeholders.
( with inputs from agencies)
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