Four crew members missing after fire onboard Singapore-registered ship off Indian coast

SINGAPORE: Four crew members are missing after a fire onboard a Singapore-registered container vessel off the Indian coast on Monday (Jun 9).

The fire occurred at about 12.30pm while the vessel, Wan Hai 503, was about 80km southwest of Azhikkal town in Kerala, India, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 

There were 22 crew members onboard.

"Eighteen crew members have been accounted for and are in the process of being transferred from lifeboats to a passing vessel,” said MPA, adding that some injuries were reported.

"There are no Singaporeans onboard."

MPA said the Indian Coast Guard and Navy are providing assistance to the crew, as well as conducting search and rescue operations for those missing. 

Pictures and videos shared by the Indian Coast Guard on X showed a thick plume of black smoke rising from the ship, and some containers lying open and in disarray.

Indian officials told Reuters that 40 containers fell into the sea after multiple explosions and fires erupted on the ship, which had been bound for India's financial capital, Mumbai. They did not disclose the nature of the cargo in the containers, nor what caused the explosions.

"Eighteen (crew members) jumped into the sea and are in rescue boats. Efforts are underway to rescue them," said Shekhar Kuriakose, secretary of Kerala's disaster management authority.

He added that the vessel was not "currently sinking". Coast guard aircraft and a destroyer have been deployed for rescue operations. 

The container vessel is managed by Wan Hai Lines (Singapore).

"MPA is in close contact with the vessel’s management company to provide support and is monitoring the situation closely," the agency said in a media release.

"MPA will be investigating the incident."

CNA has contacted Wan Hai Lines (Singapore) for more information on the cause of the fire and the crew.