Kochi: Under a tempestuous sky, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Navy, and Air Force waged a high-risk battle against fire and fury to stabilise the Singaporean container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, averting an environmental catastrophe off Kerala’s coast.
On June 13, 2025, the ICG triumphantly transferred the tow of the fire-stricken ship to the ocean-going tug Offshore Warrior, a pivotal moment in a gruelling salvage operation that saw India’s maritime forces defy relentless westerly winds and treacherous seas.
For days, the ICG had held the blazing vessel at bay, preventing it from drifting toward Kerala’s shoreline. But as weather conditions deteriorated, strong westerly gusts pushed MV Wan Hai 503 dangerously close to land, threatening coastal ecosystems. Adverse weather grounded most aerial efforts and delayed salvage crew boarding, yet the Navy’s Sea King helicopter, launched from INS Garuda in Kochi on June 13, sliced through the chaos.
In a daring manoeuvre amidst swirling smoke and raging flames, the helicopter winched a salvage team onto the vessel’s deck under extremely challenging conditions. The team, braving the onboard inferno, connected a 600-metre tow rope to Offshore Warrior, positioned 20 nautical miles off Kochi’s coast. With the tow secured, the Naval helicopter deftly extracted the salvors, allowing towing to commence westward at a steady 1.8 knots.
Now nearly 35 nautical miles offshore, MV Wan Hai 503 is escorted by three ICG Offshore Patrol Vessels, which tirelessly sustain firefighting efforts. Only thick smoke and a few isolated hotspots remain onboard, a testament to the ICG’s relentless campaign to douse the blaze and prevent a major environmental disaster.
The Indian Navy’s INS Sharda and OSV MV Triton Liberty continue to bolster the salvage operation, coordinating seamlessly with the ICG and other maritime agencies. This swift insertion and extraction of the salvage team by the Navy has reinforced the mission, showcasing India’s maritime prowess in a crisis.
The ICG is closely coordinating with the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure the vessel remains at least 50 nautical miles from India’s coastline, adhering to international norms until the ship’s owners determine its fate. With additional firefighting tugs en route, the situation is expected to stabilise further, safeguarding Kerala’s pristine shores. The operation, a symphony of courage and precision, underscores India’s commitment to maritime safety and environmental protection, turning a looming disaster into a story of resilience, the Ministry of Defence stated.
– global bihari bureau
