The Singapore-flagged container vessel Wan Hai 503, currently on fire approximately 44 nautical miles southwest of Azhikkal, Kerala, holds around 2,000 tons of fuel oil and 240 tons of diesel in its tanks. Notably, these tanks are located adjacent to the fire zone, increasing the risk of escalation, according to sources.
The fire originated in the underdeck cargo hold and has damaged containers on the deck, triggering an onboard emergency response and engulfing the entire vessel.
A total of 18 crew members have been successfully rescued with the support of the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy. Among them, five are reported injured, including two critically. All injured crew members are now stable and have been taken to New Mangalore Port. Four crew members—two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia—remain missing. A team from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is on the way to support Indian authorities.
According to the situation report, the vessel remains unmanned and adrift, continuing to emit smoke and flames from Bay Nos. 2 and 3 (port and starboard). The report warns that the proximity of the fuel tanks to the fire zone poses a major risk of escalation. The vessel is drifting approximately 1.0 nautical mile in a southerly direction.
Authorities are assessing the threat, as the ship also contains 32.2 tons of nitrocellulose stored in alcohol. While nitrocellulose is stable in alcohol, it becomes highly flammable and can ignite or explode when dry and exposed to heat, friction, or shock.
Since the ship carries goods classified under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, firefighting operations are being conducted with extreme caution. Hazard verification is ongoing, and expert advice is being followed to determine appropriate extinguishing methods.
There are four standard methods of firefighting, each aimed at disrupting the fire triangle:
Removing fuel (Starving the fire): Eliminating or cutting off the burning fuel source. This includes shutting off gas supplies, clearing flammable materials, or creating barriers between fuel and oxygen.
Cooling the fire: Lowering the temperature below the ignition point using water, mist, or foam extinguishers to absorb heat.
Smothering the fire: Cutting off the oxygen supply using foam blankets or CO₂ extinguishers to suppress combustion.
Interrupting the chemical reaction: Using dry chemical powder or halogenated agents to stop the chain reaction sustaining the fire.
Sources indicate that all four methods are being employed simultaneously aboard Wan Hai 503, as multiple types of fire are burning.
One of the greatest challenges is preventing the vessel from drifting toward the coast. Experts warn that due to the intensity of the fire, attaching a towline remains extremely difficult. Alternative strategies are being explored in coordination with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
The fire is still not under control. Currently, in addition to the Navy vessels three Indian Coast Guard vessels, offshore supply ships Offshore Warrior and Triton Liberty, and the emergency towing ship Water Lilly are involved in the firefighting operations.
