WAN HAI 503
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Two salvors injured during transfer operations
As of July 14, the 'Wan Hai 503' remained under tow of the 'Offshore Warrior', maintaining a position outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 07°39.84' N, 074°50.57' E, heading 290° at a speed of 1.4 knots, 140 nautical miles from the Kerala coast Weather conditions remained challenging, with wind gusts recorded up to 62 knots and swell heights between 2.0 to 2.5 meters, leading to rough sea conditions. Light grey smoke continued to be observed from cargo bay numbers 33 to 37. The condition was reported as stable, with no visible escalation. However, the onboard salvage team also reported a strong ammonia smell emanating from Hold No. 7, which may be attributed to rotting organic cargo. Preliminary indications suggestrf the possible presence of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), presenting hazardous enclosed space conditions. Formal chemical assessment and safe chemical neutralization procedures ertr being explored. As of 3 p.m., six salvors remained onboard the 'Wan Hai 503'. Adverse sea conditions prevented the full team from boarding. Multiple boarding attempts throughout the day had to be aborted, and two salvors sustained injuries during one of the attempts, highlighting the inherent risks of personnel transfer operations under current sea conditions. The 'Nand Saarthi' arrived on site at 12.35 a.m. to support salvage operations and commenced material transfer to the 'Offshore Warrior' and the 'Advantis Virgo'. While the tug was operational, the salvors have requested continued deployment of the 'Water Lily' to maintain reliable and safe personnel transfer capability, citing its proven role and experienced crew. The 'Water Lily' also completed a partial personnel transfer from the 'Offshore Warrior' to the 'Wan Hai 503', but could not complete the operation due to the deteriorating sea state. The 'Advantis Virgo' and the 'Saksham' remained on standby for firefighting and boundary cooling operations. However, given the rough sea conditions, active intervention has been limited to essential support. The 'SCI Panna' has been demobilized and will not be replaced at this stage, as the existing complement of support vessels was considered adequate by the salvors for the current phase of operations. The salvage team was currently exploring alternate means of supplying food and essential provisions to the onboard crew, given that evacuation is presently not possible due to weather and sea state. The condition onboard the 'Wan Hai 503' was stable, but continued to require sustained support. Hold No. 6 was reportedly being dewatered, and preparations were ongoing to control and monitor other affected holds. The ingress of water into the cargo holds was also a result of boundary cooling operations in deck hatch gaskets. Due to water in the engine room, dewatering had to be carried out with portable pumps on a hold-by-hold basis. Ffirefighting was currently limited to containment rather than full extinguishment, and complete suppression would likely require the vessel to be alongside in a Port of Refuge. A comprehensive Port of Refuge proposal has been compiled and was under review authorities. Phase II planning, including debunkering, hazardous cargo handling, and final fire suppression, may be initiated once approval is granted. DNV-ERS was coordinating stability and structural integrity verification, which are preconditions for approval. Given the prevailing monsoon conditions and rough seas, relocation of the vessel was not currently advised. However, a cautious shift 50 nauttical miles southward of the current position may be considered if conditions necessitate. The response has transitioned into a controlled salvage operation with careful risk mitigation. The safety of onboard personnel, environmental protection, and vessel stabilization remained top priorities. Active firefighting was is in place with the 'Virgo' and 'Saarthi', and the continued presence of the 'Water Lily 'has been requested to ensure safe personnel transfer capability until conditions improve. As of July 16, the situation has shown further stabilization. The 'Wan Hai 503' was being towed by the 'Advantis Virgo', following a successful handover from the 'Offshore Warrior', which is now en route to port for bunkers and resupply. Towing operations were being conducted in rough seas and heavy swell conditions. Displacement has reduced by approximately 9,000 tonnes due to extensive dewatering, leading to an increased freeboard and improved visibility of draft marks, including the transom stern, where the aft draft was estimated at 14.0 meters. The engine room was nearly dry, with water levels reduced to 70 centimetres through continuous pumping. The Cargo Holds No. 2 and No. 3 were reported to be significantly dewatered, while Hold No. 6 has seen a reduction in water level from 7.5 to 5 meters. Cargo Hold No. 7 remained dry but is emitting hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), indicating potential hazardous gas presence and the need for further ventilation and chemical treatment. Light grey smoke continued to emanate from Bays 33 to 37, but there were no visible flames. Hotspot temperatures remained steady, and no escalation has been observed. Cargo hold temperature readings, taken over the past week, confirmed a plateau in heat levels, suggesting the fire was under control. Structural monitoring was ongoing, with no immediate threats reported. The engine room was accessible, but poor weather and high freeboard have made boarding operations difficult. The 'Advantis Virgo' has assumed the primary towing role and was standing by with Pyrocool for localized application, while the 'Water Lily' continued to manage personnel and equipment transfers. The 'Saksham' has reutned to port for bunkering and collection of additional fire suppression supplies. Weather permitting, she will return with Pyrocool and critical equipment to enable final phase stabilization.The 'Nand Saarthi' remained onsite, assisting with logistics. The Port of Refuge coordination efforts were progressing. Phase 1 of the salvage plan, detailing safe towage to port, has already been submitted to the authorities, and Phase 2, concerning cargo discharge and disposal, is nearing completion. Constructive engagement has been undertaken with port authorities, and the MPA (Singapore) is also actively supporting discussions to facilitate safe access. Structural and stability assessments were underway with DNV ERS, which is receiving updated data on cargo hold and tank soundings, as well as draft readings. Due to the significant improvement in the vessel's condition, the salvage team was approaching completion of Phase 1 readiness, which would deem the vessel safe for entry into sheltered waters for final remediation and cargo operations. Despite rough weather, the vessel has not exhibited any signs of instability. Challenges remained in safely transferring personnel due to heightened freeboard and rough sea state. The presence of H₂S gas in Cargo Hold No. 7 presents a hazardous environment that must be ventilated before any entry. Additionally, concerns regarding potential water absorbed in cargo within containers persisted, possibly explaining discrepancies in displacement and draft calculations. Soundings of bunker tanks were incomplete, though preliminary estimates suggest edapproximately 2,400 tonnes of fuel remained onboard. No signs of oil leakage or migration into cargo spaces have been observed. Once the structural stability and draft criteria have been verified, either a green or amber signal for port entry will be pursued. The salvage team’s focus was now on completing tank soundings, verifying longitudinal strength, and finalizing preparations for the Port of Refuge entry. Report with photos: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2025/07/17/afkoelen-wan-hai-503-na-brand-verloopt-voorspoedig-machinekamer-grotendeels-leeggepompt/
Towing and fire fighting continued
On July 11 at noon, the 'Wan Hai 503' continuedto be towed safely by the 'Offshore Warrior', maintaining a position outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), currently located in pos. 07° 41.02'N, 074° 41.29'E. The vessel is making slow headway with a course of 080° and a speed of 2.3 knots. The weather remained moderately challenging, with prevailing winds from 285° at 22–25 knots and moderate to rough seas. The vessel's stability has been sustained, and towing operations are continuing smoothly. There wa light white smoke emanating from cargo hold Bay Nos. 33 to 37. This smoke was consistent with residual smouldering and heat retention in cargo hold No. 4, which has shown persistent elevated temperatures. However, there were no reports of visible flame or an escalation of the fire at this stage. The on-board salvage team has confirmed that five pumps were operational and that continuous dewatering efforts were ongoing. The engine room water level was now below the floor plate, and preparations were underway to inspect the suspected ingress path through the pipe duct as water levels allowed. The salvage operations continued to be supported by a coordinated fleet of response assets. The 'Advantis Virgo' was on standby near the casualty, equipped with Pyrocool, firefighting resources, and thermal imaging equipment. The vessel remained prepared for immediate deployment should any escalation occur or localized flare-up be detected. The 'Water Lily' was actively engaged in logistical support, including personnel transfers, movement of firefighting material, delivery of provisions, and standby for assisting salvage operations. Salvage personnel were rotated and resupplied via the 'Water Lily' during the early hours of the day. The 'Saksham' was positioned in proximity for fire watch and possible reboarding, particularly in anticipation of inspections or firefighting action. The tug was also perpared for salvage assistance and has previously delivered equipment including SCBA sets and high-capacity pumps In addition, the 'Nand Saarthi' was scheduled to reach Kochi on July 13, expected to relieve the 'Water Lily' on site by the evening of July 14 for potential redeployment during the ongoing southwest monsoon season, where its availability may be urgently required elsewhere. The firefighting and dewatering strategy wa yielding gradual but consistent progress. Thermal imaging has shown a downward trend in the overall heat signatures, particularly in cargo holds Nos. 2, 4, and 5. Cargo hold No. 4, previously the site of recurring flare-ups and suspected plastic resin cargo combustion, now were showing temperatures stabilizing in the 90–100°C range, though localized hotspots remained under observation. Hold No. 5 continued to retain residual heat despite the prior release of CO₂, due to the compartment being sealed with limited ventilation. This containment has prevented the complete dissipation of superheated gases. Temperatures in Hold No. 5 remained elevated (~130°C), and further cooling measures were under review. Hold Nos. 1, 2, and 6 were currently assessed to be within acceptable thermal limits, indicating no active combustion. No significant flames have been reported in the past 48 hours. CO monitoring levels remained elevated around some cargo holds, and salvors were using portable sensors and spot-checks to manage atmospheric conditions. Due to container collapse and obstructed access, a full inspection of tunnel spaces and enclosed sections has not yet been completed. Entry into such areas was subject to formal risk assessments and weather permitting. Dewatering operations were progressing positively. The use of multiple pumps, including submersibles, hydraulic units, and air-operated devices, has led to a steady reduction in the engine room water level. Once completely drained, an inspection of the suspected ingress route from cargo hold No. 3 will commence. At present, cargo holds No. 3 and 5 continued to show retained water, and soundings were to be repeated after further drainage. The Port of Refuge coordination continued. A formal document package has been submitted and was under review. The Directorate has reiterated the importance of progressing toward a definitive operational conclusion, either through approved entry into a Port of Refuge or positioning into a more sheltered and secure zone beyond the EEZ.
Ship sill emiting smoke and held beyond the Indian EEZ
On July 10 at 6 a.m. the 'Wan Hai 503' remained under tow by the 'Offshore Warrior', maintaining a controlled heading of 319° at a speed of 0.3 knots. The vessel’s position was 07° 49.79'N, 074° 43.51'E, beyond the Indian EEZ. The prevailing weather consists of winds from 305° at 20–22 knots, with moderate to rough sea conditions and high swells affecting operations. Light grey smoke was still observed emanating between Bay 33 to Bay 38, corresponding to cargo hold no. 4, where residual smouldering continued. No active flames have been reported, and the situation remained stable. Thermal imaging continued to be employed for monitoring heat levels across affected compartments. Dewatering of the engine room has progressed significantly. As of the evening of July 9, five onboard pumps had reduced the water level to approximately 0.3 metres improving accessibility for ongoing inspections and stability recovery efforts. The vessel’s name and port of registry were now visible, indicating improved external visibility. The salvage operations continued to be supported by a coordinated fleet of response assets. the 'SCI Panna' remained stationed on site and continued to conduct fire watch duties. The 'Water Lily' was actively engaged in personnel and material transfers between support vessels and the container vessel. Despite swell-related boarding challenges, critical movements were maintained to sustain onboard salvage efforts. The 'Advantis Virgo' was on standby for immediate fire-fighting or boundary cooling if required. The 'Saksham', having departed Kochi, was expected to reach the casualty site to augment salvage efforts and may participate in inspections or pump deployment, subject to weather permitting. Onboard the wreck, salvage teams were operating pumps in round-the-clock shifts. Inspection of hold no. 4 has commenced, and options were being explored for possible pump installation to expedite hold water removal. The team was also evaluating whether a second release of CO₂ in hold no. 5 was warranted based on ongoing thermal observations. The overall onboard situation was stable and improving, with active measures in place to mitigate fire risks and address flooding. While no new fire escalation has been reported, smoke persisted, and thermal surveys confirmed elevated readings, especially in the starboard section of cargo holds 4 and 5. Temperature readings of 130–140°C were previously recorded but have shown a declining trend over the last 48 hours. Structural access remained limited, and tunnel access areas were unsafe for entry due to heat and possibility of hazardous gases. The salvors were exercising extreme caution and would conduct further enclosed space entries only after formal risk assessments have been completed. The engine room was now accessible, and work continued to trace the suspected leak path, likely originating from cargo hold no. 3. However, further pump installation and complete compartment soundings remained contingent on weather improvement and reduced internal heat. The Port of Refuge issue remained unresolved. Discussions have been ongoing with the Harbour Master, and document submissions have been made by WAN HAI Lines and T&T Salvage. Simultaneously, contingency options were being pursued in coordination with the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA). The Directorate has reiterated that the vessel could not remain in its current location in the absence of a confirmed Port of Refuge clearance; relocation southward must be undertaken. The vessel is currently at the India–Sri Lanka–Maldives tri-junction area, and should be shifted 200 nautical miles south off Sri Lanka for this purpose. The 'Water Lily' will be released, once the 'Saksham' or another private tug (e.g., 'Nand Sarthi') have arrived to take over operational responsibilities. The Directorate has emphasized the need for finalisation of PoR permissions within the next 2–3 days, failing which the vessel must be moved if such a move is necessitated. The Indian Coast Guard continued aerial and maritime surveillance of the site and has confirmed that no new debris or pollution has been observed drifting toward the Indian coastline.
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