India Launches Legal Action Following Fatal Container Ship Blast

Indian officials have initiated legal proceedings against the owner, captain, and crew of the Singapore-registered container ship Wan Hai 503 after a catastrophic fire and explosion that tragically claimed the lives of four crew members.As reported by local news outlets, this incident unfolded on June 9 at around 12:30 AM local time while the vessel was traveling from Colombo to Mumbai, roughly 78 nautical miles off kerala’s coast. Out of the 22 individuals on board, 18 were successfully rescued from lifeboats; however, four remain unaccounted for—two Taiwanese nationals, one from Myanmar, and another from Indonesia.

The Fort Kochi Coastal Police have brought charges under India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) criminal code for various offenses such as reckless navigation and negligence concerning hazardous materials. According to the First Information Report (FIR), it was clear that those in charge knew their cargo included flammable substances and explosives. The aftermath saw fuel leaking into surrounding waters along with several containers tumbling overboard. Additionally, toxic gases released during the fire posed significant threats to local fishermen and marine life.

In terms of salvage efforts, recent updates from the Indian Coast Guard reveal that operations are underway. By June 14, control of towing operations had shifted to a tug named Offshore Warrior with plans to keep the vessel at least 50 nautical miles offshore until further assessments can be made.

This incident is reminiscent of another maritime disaster involving MSC Elsa-3 which sank near Kochi on May 25 under similar circumstances; charges were also filed in that case. The MSC Elsa-3 went down about 13 nautical miles off Kerala after developing a risky list but fortunately saw all its crew members rescued.Notably concerning were some containers aboard containing Calcium Carbide—a substance notorious for reacting violently with water.

A spokesperson for Fort Kochi Coastal Police confirmed that legal actions taken against those involved in Wan Hai 503 closely resemble those previously filed regarding MSC Elsa-3 incidents.

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