June 10, 2025 - The Indian Navy, in a closely coordinated search and rescue operation with the India Coast Guard, DG Shipping and other stakeholders, has safely rescued 18 out of 22 crew members of the Singaporean-flagged MV Wan Hai 503. .

The MV had reported internal container explosion and resultant major fire onboard the container ship off the coast of Kerala on June 9. On receiving news of the fire, the Navy immediately deployed INS Surat and a Dornier aircraft to render necessary assistance and 18 of 22 crew members were safely rescued by INS Surat.

Carrying the rescued crew members, the ship arrived at New Mangalore Port at 10.45 pm on June 9. Of the 18, six were injured, two critically and four had minor injuries. Four are missing at sea.

First aid has been rendered to the injured crew members and the ship is presently proceeding to New Mangalore for disembarkation and further medical management.

Of those rescued, eight are Chinese, four Taiwanese, four from Myanmar and two from Indonesia.Two of the four missing are nationals of Taiwan, one is from Indonesia and one from Myanmar, according to Commandant Amit Uniyal of the Indian Coast Guard. Search is on for the missing members coordinated by the Navy and the Coast Guard and aided by a Dornier aircraft.

The MV Wan Hai 503 was en route from Colombo to Mumbai. It caught fire approximately 78 nautical miles off the Beypore coast, Kerala.

With Media Inputs