Lifeboat from Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 washes ashore in Kerala's Alappuzha, authorities on alert.

A lifeboat from the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 washed ashore in Kerala's Alappuzha. The ship caught fire at sea on June 9 following an explosion. Authorities have issued an alert, advising the public to stay away from suspicious objects and maintain a distance of at least 200 meters. Containers from the ship are expected to drift ashore along the Alappuzha, Kollam, and Ernakulam coasts between June 16 and June 18.

A lifeboat from the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 washed ashore in Alappuzha, Kerala, on June 16, 2025. The ship caught fire at sea on June 9 following an explosion, leading to extensive rescue and firefighting operations. Authorities have issued an alert advising the public to stay away from suspicious objects and maintain a distance of at least 200 meters.

The MV Wan Hai 503 was en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, when a container explosion triggered a fire on board [1]. The incident occurred approximately 78 nautical miles off Beypore, and the vessel was carrying 22 crew members. Six crew members were admitted to AJ Hospital and Research Centre in Mangaluru, with two suffering severe burns [2].

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy coordinated rescue operations, with 18 crew members rescued and four missing [3]. The naval ship INS Surat reached Mangaluru port with the rescued crew around 11.30 PM on Monday night. The ICG also deployed multiple ships and aircraft to manage the crisis, including the salvage master and a Dornier aircraft for aerial surveys [4].

The lifeboat that washed ashore is part of the ongoing cleanup efforts following the incident. Authorities have warned that containers from the ship may drift ashore along the southern parts of Ernakulam district and the coastal stretches of Alappuzha and Kollam between June 16 and June 18 [5]. The public is advised to report any suspicious objects found along the shore to the emergency helpline 112.

The MV Wan Hai 503 continues to drift within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), with firefighting operations ongoing to contain the blaze [6]. The ICG is engaged in intensive firefighting efforts, supported by multiple ships and aircraft, to manage the threat posed by the vessel's hazardous cargo.

References:
[1] https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/06/09/container-ship-fire-rescue-mission-live.html
[2] https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/06/10/mv-wan-hai-503-fire-rescue-crew-members-hospital-live.html
[3] https://www.facebook.com/groups/seaportsandships/posts/1413649203119482/
[4] https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/containers-from-wan-hai-may-reach-kerala-shores-ernakulam-alappuzha-kollam-i703ooy3
[5] https://www.cnbctv18.com/photos/india/kerala-beypore-singapore-container-ship-explosion-fire-crew-missing-navy-rescue-19617938.htm
[6] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1916218441927166/posts/kochi-kerala-in-a-significant-development-in-the-salvage-operations-of-mv-wan-ha/4158655991016722/