A major fire has erupted aboard the MV Wan Hai 503 container ship in the Arabian Sea, approximately 15 nautical miles off India’s southwest coast.

The ship, en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, India, reported an internal explosion on Monday, triggering a catastrophic blaze. While the Indian Coast Guard responded quickly to the distress call, only 18 of the 22 crew members were rescued, with four still missing.

Explosions have continued to echo from the vessel as of Tuesday, more than 24 hours after the initial blast. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but the disaster has resulted in the loss of over 50 containers, which are now drifting along the coast of Kerala.

The ship was carrying hazardous materials, including nitrocellulose and resin, as well as 100 tonnes of bunker oil.

This fire marks the second major maritime incident in the region in just a few weeks. In May, the ‘MSC Elsa 3’, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank after leaking oil and hazardous cargo. The vessel had developed a severe list earlier following harsh monsoon weather conditions.

Further afield, another vessel, the ‘Morning Midas’, which was transporting nearly 3,000 vehicles off the coast of Alaska, caught fire and was abandoned.

These events emphasise the risks faced by mariners working aboard cargo ships and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of cargo insurance. Should you have any doubts as to whether you have sufficient cover in place, then please do not hesitate to contact the team at Atlantic Pacific.