Update on the Incident Response Aboard Wan Hai 503

Photo: Indian Coast Guard – Fire on Wan Hai 503, June 9, 2025

Cargo discharge operations aboard the Wan Hai 503 container ship are ongoing under the close supervision of technical and safety teams following the fire incident that occurred earlier.

According to the latest updates, several cargo holds still contain a mixture of firefighting water, debris, and waste residue from the blaze, making the cleaning process highly complex and time-consuming. Completing this stage is considered a critical step to ensure that subsequent container discharge activities can proceed safely.

In the most severely affected areas, numerous hatch covers remain deformed and continue to cover large portions of damaged cargo. Cutting and removing these steel structures require the use of heavy machinery and specialized personnel. Due to the impact on the vessel’s structural integrity, every movement is being closely monitored to maintain hull stability throughout the operation.

To handle the damaged cargo, large-capacity lifting equipment and hydraulic grabs have been deployed to separate and remove each burnt or compromised container individually. Although this approach extends the overall operation time, it ensures absolute adherence to safety standards during the entire recovery process.

As of November 9, 2025, approximately 987 containers have been discharged from the vessel, with an estimated 735 containers still remaining on board.

Wan Hai Lines, together with on-site experts, continues to address the challenges posed by the damaged cargo, maintaining the highest focus on safety and environmental protection. A company representative stated that Wan Hai Lines expresses its gratitude to the authorities, partners, and professional teams who have provided their support throughout the recovery process.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Container-News)

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