Salvors board still burning Wan Hai 503

The Wan Hai 503 ablaze of Kerala, India since 9 June has been brought under tow in a “daring” salvage operation.

The Indian Navy said a “daring operation” on 13 June had allowed three salvage crew to board the Wan Hai 503 by winched down from a helicopter.

Video posted on social media platform X showed members of a three-man salvage team being winched from an Indian Navy helicopter onto the aft of the stricken container ship which has been unaffected by the fire which has raged for days on much of the vessel.

The salvage team was able to attach a tow to the salvage tug Offshore Warrior while fires continued to burn in cargo holds and containers on much of the vessel. Once the tow was attached the salvage team was successfully extracted from the vessel by the Navy helicopter.

The Wan Hai 503 is now reported to be under tow although no information was given as to where it was being it was being to.

The towing operations are being supported by the navy vessel INS Sharda and OSV Triton Liberty working with the Indian Coast Guard.

The blaze on the Wan Hai 503 started on 9 June towards the fore of the vessel following an explosion in cargo containers and later spread to much of the length of the container ship.

Four of the Singapore-registered ship’s crew remain missing. Eighteen of the 22 crew were rescued following the explosion and fire, six were injured, two critically suffering burns to 35% – 40% of their bodies.