Wan Hai 503 incident, India

Posted: 11/06/2025

An incident involving a container ship reportedly carrying over 150 containers of hazardous noxious substances has occurred off the coast of Kerala, India.

Photo courtesy of the Indian Coast Guard

The Singapore-flagged Wan Hai 503 (4 333 teu) caught fire on 9 June. Four crew members were unaccounted for as at 10 June, 18 had been rescued, although some had suffered injuries. The Indian Coast Guard were continuing to coordinate the response to the incident, with over 50 containers already reportedly having fallen into the sea.

This incident comes just two weeks after the MSC Elsa 3 (1 728-teu) sank off the port city of Kochi, Kerala on 25 May 2025, whilst also carrying containers of HNS, although in lesser amounts than the Wan Hai 503.

This latest incident is another unfortunate example of why the 2010 HNS Convention is needed.  Had the Convention been in force, it is likely that it would apply in both the incidents currently impacting the Indian coastline.  Unlike the 1992 Conventions, the HNS Convention covers loss of life and personal injury claims, fire and explosion and incidents involving a wide range of hazardous and noxious substances.