A Singapore-flagged container vessel Wan Hai, bound for Navi Mumbai caught fire 78 nautical miles off Beypore along the Kerala coast, a defence spokesperson told PTI in Kochi on Monday. The spokesperson said four of the vessel's 22 crew members were missing.

The ship M V Wan Hai 503 remained adrift and continued to emit smoke because of the onboard fire. Five crew members were injured, two seriously. The crew, mostly Taiwanese, abandoned the ship in lifeboats and life rafts. The merchant vessel MV ONE MARVEL, which authorities alerted for assistance, planned to pick up the crew members, the defence spokesperson said.

M V Wan Hai 503 departed Colombo on June 7 and was scheduled to arrive at NPC Mumbai on June 10. Around 10:30 am on Monday, the Navy received information about a fire below deck on the vessel. The fire had engulfed the entire ship.

Officials said they requested the ship’s owners to promptly assess and report the cargo in the affected hold to determine if hazardous materials were present. So far, no information had come in on whether dangerous goods were involved in the fire.

Regarding the rescue operation, sources said the Coast Guard and Navy responded quickly. The Coast Guard deployed two Dornier aircraft, while the Navy deployed one. The aircraft carried life rafts to support aerial rescue and provide a situation assessment. The Coast Guard also dispatched two surface ships expected to reach the vessel’s location within three hours.

Five Coast Guard ships were deployed and expected to arrive at the scene by 4 pm. A naval warship operating nearby was diverted to the site and was expected to arrive around 5 pm. The nearby merchant vessels MV AMBRA and MV ONE MARVEL were alerted and directed to proceed to the location to provide immediate assistance.

Shekhar Kuriakose, member-secretary of the state disaster management authority, said district collectors of Kozhikode and Ernakulam were instructed to ensure treatment for the injured once they reached the coast. “At present, we have no information from the Coast Guard regarding any impact on the Kerala coast following the vessel fire,” he said.

A situation report warned that the fire posed a serious risk of further explosion. Officials said they would assess any drifting containers or other navigation hazards once the Coast Guard ships arrived. They alerted all nearby vessels to maintain a safe distance and reduce speed in the area.

The Directorate of Shipping maintained continuous liaison with the Coast Guard, Navy, and ship management for coordinated emergency response. Wan Hai Lines managed the vessel, and the owners were instructed to appoint a professional salvor and firefighting expert. Initial contact was made with SMIT Salvage for specialised assistance.

The Flag Administration of Singapore also received formal notification of the incident. The shipping directorate issued a communication asking the owners to immediately appoint qualified salvors and firefighting experts to assess the cargo and provide expert guidance to support ongoing firefighting efforts led by the Coast Guard, given the nature of the cargo onboard.