WAN HAI 503

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Course/Position

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Ship held 71 miles off the coast

On June 24 at 6 a.m. the 'Wan Hai 503' remained under tow at position 10°12.80'N, 074°58.47'E, approximately 71 nautical miles from the Indian coast, maintaining a slow westerly drift at 0.5 knots on a course of 289°. The vessel remained hydrostatically stable with no significant change in draft or list, though a consistent 4.4° list to port side was observeed. Latest thermal imaging indicated a general cooling trend across structural frames, with temperatures ranging between 27°C to 37°C. However, smoke conditions remained concerning, with light white smoke at Bay 14, dense grey and black smoke between Bays 27-33, and white smoke emanating near Bay 37-39. Salvage teams have commenced onboard inspections under challenging weather conditions, focusing on dewatering the engine room, securing the forecastle for further tow arrangements, and fire management. The 'Boka Winger', 'Saroja Blessing' and 'Water Lily' continued to maintain boundary cooling, fire watch, and transportation of salvage personnel and equipment. The 'Offshore Warrior' was holding the primary tow connection to maintain the vessel's position. Salvage resources have been augmented with the recent arrival of the 'Saksham', which was carrying essential Yokohama fenders, submersible pumps, portable generators, and firefighting gear to enhance operational safety and facilitate onboard dewatering. A combination of pneumatic, submersible, and independent power-pack driven pumps were now staged for immediate deployment in the engine room. Salvage divers and senior personnel have boarded to assess the vessel's internal conditions, especially in critical areas such as the forecastle and accommodation sections. The CO₂ fire suppression system onboard remained operational, offering contingency options for isolated fire outbreaks within the cargo holds. The vessel's structural condition remains broadly stable, with no major deterioration observed; however, the presence of intermittent smoke and gas pockets within the cargo holds necessitated continued vigilance. The salvage master has confirmed safe but restricted access to the forecastle and underdeck passage on the port side, while starboard access remained unsafe due to high gas concentrations. Dewatering of the engine room was a high priority, with equipment deployment commencing as soon as weather conditions allow. Plans for reinforcing the towline system were in progress, with new towing arrangements being prepared on site. The Directorate has directed that the casualty be progressively towed further offshore, aiming for a minimum 100 nautical mile buffer from the Indian coast and Lakshadweep islands within the next 72 hours. The salvors have been instructed to expedite stabilisation works, with particular emphasis on relocating the vessel towards a southeasterly direction to minimise coastal and environmental risks. Coordination efforts for potential ports of refuge continued to secure a suitable location for final salvage operations, including bunker removal and structural repairs. Contingency discussions were also ongoing with alternate ports, given the evolving risk scenario.

Ship remained stable and under tow off Kerala

On Juen 23 at noon, the 'Wan Hai 503' remained under tow at position 10°03.17'N, 074°58.16'E, approximately 72 nautical miles from the Indian coastline, making a course of 350° at 1.5 knots. The vessel continued to emit grey smoke from Bay 14 and thick white and grey smoke between the Bays 27-33, with light white smoke observed near Bay 38. Boundary cooling operations and fire watch were ongoing, carried out in rotation by the tugs 'Boka Winger', 'Saroja Blessing' and 'Water Lily'. The tug 'Offshore Warrior' was maintaining position through the primary tow arrangement. Thermal imaging conducted earlier the day recorded temperatures peaking at 64.7°C between Frames 93 and 103, correlating with intermittent flare-ups observed during the recent days. Two of the forward hatches remained open, with Hold No.4 partially opened for ventilation and access. Draught measurements indicated that the vessel remained stable with forward draught readings at 10.6 metres (port) and 10.4m (starboard), while the midship markings were submerged at approximately 12.6 metres. The aft draught remained submerged but unchanged. Despite visual perception of increased trim aft, onsite assessments attribute this to weather conditions, with no significant structural changes reported. The salvors have confirmed that the engine room atmosphere was gas-free, allowing safe access for ongoing inspections and future dewatering operations. Emergency generator activation remaineds pending due to non-functional batteries; replacements have been dispatched onboard the tug 'Saksham' and were to be delivered shortly. Firefighters and salvage teams were coordinating to access the vessel’s forecastle via multiple routes, with ongoing discussions regarding safe boarding options. Yokohama fenders have been mobilised to facilitate safe personnel and equipment transfer. The process to reinforce tow arrangements remained underway. The salvors were planning to replace the current tow line with more robust towing gea, which has been stored onboard the 'Saksham' andwas expected to depart shortly. The 'Offshore Warrior' will complete bunkering operations at sea to sustain extended towage. Simultaneously, dive inspections of the hull were planned to assess potential ingress points and enable engine room dewatering. The 'Atlantis Virgo', carrying critical fire suppression materials (Pyrocool) and additional tow gear, departed Fujairah and is en route, with an ETA as of June 29, to enhance onboard fire management and long-term stabilisation efforts. The vessel' had a slight list of approximately 4°, confirmed through bridge-level inspection. Intermittent flare-ups within the cargo holds were attributed to residual burning of stored commodities as advised by fire experts. Boundary cooling remained the primary firefighting strategy to minimise additional water ingress and manage heat build-up. A complete extinguishment of internal fires is considered viable only upon access to port facilities equipped for container removal and deep access. Environmental concerns persisted due to onboard heavy fuel oil (HFO) and marine gas oil (MGO) inventories. ITOPF assessments indicated a risk of persistent oil pollution affecting adjacent states should containment fail. The Directorate has reiterated to salvors the urgency of finalising dewatering operations, reinforcing tow arrangements, and moving the casualty a minimum of 100 nautical miles southwest, off Trivandrum, within the next 48 hours. This directive prioritises reducing coastal environmental risks during the monsoon period. Port of refuge options continued to be explored. Salvors were instructed to formalise this within 48 hours while progressively relocating the vessel further offshore, as a precautionary measure. Preparations for potential oil removal operations were to commence immediately, aligned with weather conditions and vessel stability. A structured salvage timeline and comprehensive risk mitigation plan remained awaited from the salvors. The Directorate will enforce necessary measures to safeguard Indian waters and coastal interests should these actions not progress satisfactorily within stipulated timeframes.

Engine room flooding raises concerns

On June 21 at 6 p.m. the 'Wan Hai 503' was in pos, 10°12.46'N, 074°39.30'E, approximately 91 nautical miles from the Kerala coast, drifting at a speed of 0.7 knots on a 295° course. The weather at the site remained operationally manageable with north-westerly winds ranging from 24–26 knots. The vessel remained under two secured towlines connected to the 'Offshore Warrior', maintaining position and preventing any drift toward the Indian coast. the fire conditions onboard have improved, though localised smoke emissions persisted. Grey smoke continued to rise from cargo hold areas between Bays 4–9, while light grey smoke was noted at Bay 14 and near Bay 37–39. Grey smoke from the hold area was also visible near Bays 33–35. No flames were visible on either port or starboard sides. Thermal imaging indicated a general decline in temperatures across the vessel. The hottest zones were recorded around Frame 123 (Bay 33) with a temperature of 55°C, and Bay 35 at 48°C, while areas such as Bay 39–50 now register ambient heat levels (32–36°C), suggesting that the fire has been largely suppressed. Firefighting, boundary cooling, and fire watch were being carried out in rotation by the 'Saksham', 'Water Lily', 'Saroja Blessing' and the 'Boka Winger'. At 2.06 p.m., three personnel, a Salvage Master and two professional firefighters, boarded the casualty to conduct onboard inspections. Notably, ingress of water has been identified in the engine room, with estimated water levels of approximately 10 metres. The emergency generator appeared unaffected and could be repurposed to power internal systems. Two Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) units have also been transferred to the casualty via the 'Water Lily' for safe entry into restricted spaces. The second tow rope—measuring 96 mm—was successfully connected to the casualty on 20 June, and the previously chafed rope from the 'Boka Winger' has been replaced. The 'Saroja Blessing' continued to serve dual functions: boundary cooling and onboard deployment logistics, including thermal imaging surveys. Meanwhile, the 'SCI Panna' remained on standby and (may not be used for the operation at all, and the tug 'Virgo' was en route from the UAE, expected to arrive within five days. Two portable generators were being prepared for installation onboard the casualty to restore basic onboard power to assist in the recovery of the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), cargo hold ventilation, and deck lighting. The VDR has been retrieved and transferred to the 'Offshore Warrior' but awaits formal handover to MMD Kochi for investigation and data extraction. All coordination for the VDR transfer and documentation was underway with the Directorate and Kochi authorities. Shoreline monitoring continued under MERC and ITOPF. No new debris or drifting containers have been reported along the Kerala coast. On June 22 az 6 p.m. the casualty was in position 10°00.67'N, 075°06.78'E, approximately 70 nautical miles off the Indian coast, drifting at a course of 225° with a speed of 1.3 knots. The weather at the site remained challenging with moderate to rough seas, squalls, and westerly winds ranging from 14 to 16 knots. The fire activity onboard remaiedactive but localised. Bay 14 has witnessed a reignition with visible black smoke, while light grey smoke continued to be emitted from Bays 4–9 and 37–39. Firefighting efforts were ongoing with rotation between the 'Boka Winger', 'Saksham', 'Saroja Blessing' and 'Water Lily' as required. Boundary cooling has resumed and thermal imaging has been deployed to monitor evolving hotspots. The engine room continued to show signs of water ingress with the aft draft having increased by approximately 30 centimeters. Draft readings currently stood at 11.0 m (Forward Port), 10.8 m (Forward Starboard), and 12.6 m midships, indicating hydrostatic balance at midsection but growing concern at the aft. A diving operation was scheduled for June 23 to locate the source of the flooding and examine any hull breach or ducting damage. T&T has also been directed to deploy submersible pumps and assess the status of the emergency generator and the main switchboard. While the emergency generator appeared unaffected, its use remained pending proper testing. Additional firefighting supplies, including Pyrocool, were in transit aboard the 'Virgo', currently en route to Fujairah. A contingency plan was under review to tow the vessel 200 miles away from the Indian coastline. The final decision will be based on the salvor’s submission, diving results, and engine room stability. The scheduled Port of Refuge visit to Hambantota on June 24 remained on track, contingent on clearances and environmental safety protocols. All stakeholders have been instructed to finalise route options, taking into account weather windows, firefighting status, and structural integrity. Should the casualty show signs of worsening stability, emergency relocation will be executed without delay. The Directorate General of Shipping continued to oversee and coordinate all inter-agency efforts to ensure the safe management of the incident and protection of India’s maritime environment and coastline. Photos: https://forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=222148#p222148