India launched a criminal case against the owner, master, and crew of the Singapore-flagged container ship Wan Hai 503 following a deadly fire and explosion that claimed four lives.
The incident began in the early hours of June 9, when a powerful explosion occurred as the vessel was sailing from Colombo to Mumbai, about 78 nautical miles off Kerala’s coast. Of the 22 crew members on board, 18 were rescued from lifeboats. Four remain missing: two Taiwanese nationals, one Myanmar national, and one from Indonesia.
The Fort Kochi Coastal Police have filed charges under India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for several offences, including reckless navigation, endangering public ways or navigation, negligent handling of poisonous substances, and mishandling of explosive materials, according to local reports.
The First Information Report (FIR) states that the owner, captain, and crew of Wan Hai 503 knew the vessel carried flammable materials, explosives, and hazardous chemicals. The explosion caused fuel and oil to leak into the sea, with several containers lost overboard. The release of toxic gases posed serious risks to fishermen and marine life.
The Indian Coast Guard reported that, as of June 14, the tow had been transferred to the tug Offshore Warrior. The vessel is now 35 nautical miles offshore and will be held at least 50 miles out pending further decisions.
This incident follows the MSC Elsa 3 case, where the ship sank off Kochi on May 25. All 24 crew members were rescued. That vessel had hazardous cargo, including Calcium Carbide, known to react dangerously with water. Authorities confirmed that similar charges have been filed in both cases.
