India Ends Salvage Role as Wan Hai 503 Stabilizes Off Sri Lanka

India has officially withdrawn from the salvage operation of the fire-stricken container vessel Wan Hai 503, nearly two months after the ship suffered a cargo explosion off Kerala’s coast.

Incident Recap

- The Singapore-flagged Wan Hai 503 caught fire on June 9, resulting in four crew casualties  
- Indian Navy and Coast Guard executed aerial insertions and firefighting missions under extreme conditions  
- The vessel was successfully towed beyond India’s Exclusive Economic Zone earlier in July  

Current Status and Operational Shift

- As of July 22, the ship is anchored 90 nautical miles off Galle, Sri Lanka  
- Fire containment has been achieved, though smouldering cargo persists in the hold  
- India’s Directorate General of Shipping confirmed the vessel is now under Singapore’s jurisdiction  

Next Steps and Port of Refuge Talks

- Salvage teams remain onboard, conducting boundary cooling and structural assessments  
- Discussions are ongoing with Hambantota port authorities to secure a safe berth  
- Sri Lanka’s recent $1 billion ruling over the X-Press Pearl disaster has raised concerns about port clearance  

Strategic Implications

- The two-stage salvage plan includes towing the vessel closer to port for final dewatering  
- Authorities emphasize the vessel’s stability and absence of oil leakage, despite residual hydrogen sulfide in Hold 7  
- The incident underscores the need for robust regional frameworks for maritime emergencies  

Sources: Seatrade Maritime, Economic Times, Maritime Executive, Press Information Bureau, Adda247.