Burning of Cargo Ship in India Sparks Concerns
The fire, located off the coast of Kerala in southern India, has prompted officials to issue warnings about a “potential ecological disaster.”
The container vessel, Wan Hai 503, was traveling to Mumbai from Colombo when it ignited on June 9, reportedly due to an explosion within one of the containers, according to Indian authorities.
Measuring 270 meters in length and with a 12.5-meter draft, the ship was approximately 144 kilometers (90 miles) from the Kerala shoreline at the time of the event.
Rescue crews are working to attach a towline in an attempt to drag the ship further away from the shore, aiming to mitigate the environmental hazard.
“The situation remains critical and is being monitored continuously,” stated India’s Defense Ministry in a communication released Wednesday evening.
The Wan Hai 503 is transporting 2,128 metric tons of fuel and numerous containers, some of which contain dangerous substances, thereby posing a major threat to marine biodiversity and crucial shipping corridors.
According to the ministry, the Indian Coast Guard deployed five salvage experts and a diver from the aircrew onto the vessel on June 11 to support the towing operations.
“Intensive firefighting efforts by ICG have significantly reduced visible flames, with only smoke now seen across the cargo holds and bays. However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel tanks,” the statement added.
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