Kerala Files Charges After Two Maritime Disasters at Sea

A container ship on fire at sea
Corporate News Shipping Asia Accidents & Emergencies
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In response to two major maritime emergencies off the coast of Kerala, Indian authorities have filed criminal charges against the owner, captain, and crew of the Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-registered container ship that caught fire on June 9. This development follows a separate criminal case recently opened after the MSC Elsa 3 sank near Kochi.

Explosion and Fire Aboard Wan Hai 503

The Wan Hai 503 was en route from Colombo to Mumbai when a fire broke out onboard following multiple explosions. The vessel was carrying more than 1,700 containers, including over 140 filled with hazardous materials. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard led an extensive emergency response, rescuing 18 of the 22 crew members. The severely damaged vessel has since been moved further out to sea for safety.

Authorities discovered a body on Tuesday in Alappuzha, suspected to be one of the missing sailors. This followed Monday’s discovery of a container and lifeboat from the same ship, found along the same stretch of coastline. Police are working to formally identify the remains.

Parallel Case Tied to MSC Elsa 3 Sinking

The legal case filed over the Wan Hai 503 mirrors one already underway concerning the MSC Elsa 3, which sank last month off the coast of Kochi. In that incident, the Kerala Coastal Police accused the vessel's stakeholders of negligence and breaching safety regulations.

Court Orders Target Sister Ships

The Kerala High Court has also stepped in, issuing a conditional arrest order for the MSC Polo II, a Liberian-flagged sister vessel to the MSC Elsa 3. The arrest order comes in response to a cargo damage claim by Sans Cashew India.

Just days earlier, on June 12, the same court had issued a similar arrest order for another related ship, the MSC Manasa F, following claims by another cashew exporter whose goods were lost at sea.

These back-to-back incidents and the resulting legal actions have raised serious concerns about maritime safety practices and accountability in the region.