The container ship Wan Hai 503, which suffered a serious fire on 9 June, has now been towed westwards away from Indian waters, after a joint effort by the Indian navy and salvors appointed by Wan Hai.
The 4,520 TEU ship was sailing from Colombo to India’s Nhava Sheva port when an underdeck explosion occurred. Indian media reports suggested that hazardous goods in some containers caused the blast.
The fire is still burning but is now under control. Eighteen seafarers on Wan Hai 503 evacuated on lifeboats and the search continues for the four missing crew members, comprising two Taiwanese, one Indonesian and one Myanmar national.
T&T Salvage has been appointed as salvors by Wan Hai while Bureau Veritas’ consultancy subsidiary TMC Marine is assisting the salvage operation. The Indian navy winched the salvage team onto the aft of Wan Hai 503, which is being towed by ocean-going tug Ocean Warrior.
T&T Salvage has assigned three firefighting tugs – Garnet, Saksham, Water Lilly and Triton, and two more salvage vessels Saroja Blessing and Boka Winger.
Wan Hai continued: “The Wan Hai 503 is currently being towed westwards away from the Indian coastline to protect the Indian coastline, and its maritime and fisheries resources… The salvors will also attempt to protect the remaining cargo on board, and conduct risk evaluation for the ensuing ship salvage operations.”
