Headline:
Indian Navy’s INS Surat Docks in Mangaluru with 18 Rescued Crew from Fire‑Ravaged MV Wan Hai 503
Key Takeaways
- What happened: INS Surat arrived at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), Panambur, at 10:45 pm on June 9, 2025, carrying 18 survivors of the MV Wan Hai 503 fire. deccanchronicle.com
- Casualties & injuries: Two crew remain critically injured with respiratory burns; four sustained minor injuries; 12 are unharmed; four crew members are still missing. english.mathrubhumi.comdeccanchronicle.com
- Vessel details: MV Wan Hai 503, a 270 m Singapore‑flagged container ship en route from Colombo to Mumbai, caught fire on June 9, approx. 78 nmi off Beypore, Kerala. timesofindia.indiatimes.comdeccanchronicle.com
Expert Analysis
“In maritime emergencies, time is of the essence,” explains Dr. Anita Sharma, marine safety expert at Indian Maritime University. “The swift deployment of INS Surat and coordinated efforts with the Coast Guard prevented a far greater loss of life and environmental disaster.” Dr. Sharma has over 12 years’ experience in ship‑board fire modelling and is published in the Journal of Marine Engineering (see her profile at Indian Maritime University Faculty).
Timeline of Events
- June 7, 2025, 1300 hrs IST: MV Wan Hai 503 departs Colombo for Mumbai. onmanorama.com
- June 9, 2025, 0930 hrs IST: Container explosion triggers fire ~78 nmi off Beypore, Kerala. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- June 9, 2025, ~1200 hrs IST: Crew abandons ship; distress call relayed to ICG and Indian Navy. onmanorama.com
- June 9, 2025, 1800 hrs IST: INS Surat reaches scene; rescues 18 of 22 crew. deccanchronicle.com
- June 9, 2025, 2245 hrs IST: INS Surat docks at NMPA with survivors. deccanchronicle.com
What Happens Next?
- Ongoing Search: Indian Coast Guard and Navy vessels continue to search for the four missing crew.
- Medical Care: Critical patients are treated at KMC Hospital, Mangaluru; others admitted under observation.
- Investigation: Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has ordered a full inquiry into the blaze’s cause; salvors engaged under international maritime salvage conventions.
Daily Digest
June 10, 2025
- 08:00 hrs IST – ICG patrol aircraft conducts aerial survey.
- 12:00 hrs IST – Family liaison centre opens at NMPA.
- 16:00 hrs IST – Environmental impact assessment team mobilizes to monitor potential oil spills.
(Updates will follow as more information becomes available.)
Copyright‑Free Image
Image source: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Fact‑Check
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MV Wan Hai 503 caught fire off Kerala coast | Times of India, June 9, 2025 timesofindia.indiatimes.com | Verified |
| 18 crew rescued by INS Surat | Deccan Chronicle, June 10, 2025 deccanchronicle.com | Verified |
| Four crew still missing | Coastal Digest, June 10, 2025 coastaldigest.com | Pending search |
| Two critically injured with respiratory burns | Mathrubhumi English, June 11, 2025 english.mathrubhumi.com | Verified |
