Youth Congress leader Adv Adhil claimed that there is a possibility of sabotage and demands probe into ship fire off Kerala coast
Kozhikode, Kerala | June 11, 2025 — The dramatic fire aboard MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged container ship, continues to generate widespread concern and controversy off the Kerala coast, as firefighting and towing operations intensify amid environmental fears and allegations of possible sabotage.
The vessel, which caught fire on 9 June 2025 while en route from Colombo to Mumbai, remains adrift in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), about 42 nautical miles from Beypore. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is leading an extensive, multi-agency response to control the situation. The ship carries over 2,100 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous materials.
According to an official press release issued today, the ICG has managed to significantly contain the blaze, with only smoke now visible in the cargo bays. However, fire continues to smolder in the ship’s inner decks and near the fuel tanks. Five ICG vessels, supported by two Dornier aircraft and a helicopter, are on scene. Two ships from the Directorate General of Shipping are also assisting, along with a team of international salvors appointed by the ship’s owners. The Indian Air Force has been requested to provide additional aerial support.
In a high-risk maneuver at approximately 1500 hours on 11 June, an ICG helicopter winched five salvage team members and a diver onto the burning ship to assist in connecting a towline. Despite rough seas, the vessel has now been secured and is under tow, reducing the immediate risk of ecological disaster along Kerala’s coast.
Meanwhile, the Indian Youth Congress’s Kozhikode district committee has urged IGP of Coastal Security A. Akbar to investigate the possibility of sabotage. In a formal letter, district secretary Adv. C.V. Adhil Ali expressed concern that the ship might have been carrying highly toxic materials, possibly pesticides or explosive chemicals, which could severely impact marine life and coastal communities if released.
He also suggested the incident could be part of a broader pattern aimed at disrupting Kerala’s emerging maritime infrastructure, particularly Vizhinjam International Seaport. The Youth Congress has demanded that authorities register a case against the ship’s operators under maritime and environmental protection laws.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed coastal district administrations to remain on alert and coordinate medical preparedness for any crew members who may require aid upon reaching shore. Four of the vessel’s 22 crew members remain unaccounted for, while others were rescued after abandoning ship.
