Beypore (Kerala): Under a heavy sky off Kerala’s coast, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) today launched a perilous operation to avert an environmental catastrophe. With precision and resolve, they airlifted five salvage team members and an aircrew diver onto the burning Singaporean container ship MV Wan Hai 503, which has been ablaze since June 9. Drifting 42 nautical miles southeast of Beypore, Kerala, within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the vessel carries 1.2 lakh metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo. A single misstep could unleash a toxic spill, devastating marine ecosystems and crippling regional trade routes.
The fire, which erupted two days earlier, has left the ship a smouldering threat. Relentless firefighting by the ICG has subdued the flames on the surface, reducing them to smoke billowing from cargo holds and bays. Yet, the danger persists below deck, where fires continue to burn near fuel tanks, threatening a catastrophic explosion or leak. The vessel’s drift toward open waters heightens the risk, with ocean currents and unpredictable weather complicating efforts to contain the crisis.
The ICG has mobilised a formidable response. Five of their ships are deployed, tirelessly spraying water and foam to suppress the blaze, while two Dornier aircraft and a helicopter provide critical aerial oversight. Support vessels from the Directorate General of Shipping have joined the operation, and the Indian Air Force has been summoned for additional aerial resources. A salvage team, appointed by the ship’s owners, works in tandem with the ICG, their efforts focused on securing a towline to pull the vessel away from India’s coastline. This task, fraught with danger, is essential to prevent the ship from grounding or spilling its toxic load into the Arabian Sea.
The potential consequences are dire. A fuel or chemical spill could poison coral reefs, decimate fish stocks, and disrupt the livelihoods of coastal communities. The hazardous cargo, if ignited or released, could spread toxic fumes, endangering both responders and nearby populations. The ICG’s command centre operates around the clock, analysing data on wind patterns, sea conditions, and fire behaviour to guide the response. Every decision carries weight, as the window to avert disaster narrows.
The men and women of the ICG and the salvage team embody extraordinary courage. Lowered onto a burning deck, they confront searing heat and unstable conditions to protect India’s waters. Their mission is not just to save a ship but to safeguard an ecosystem and a way of life. As the MV Wan Hai 503 continues to burn, the nation watches, acutely aware that the outcome will shape the future of its coastal waters.
– global bihari bureau
