India Launches Criminal Investigation into Wan Hai 503 Crew After Cargo Fire

Top image by Indian Coast Guard

Indian authorities have launched a criminal investigation against the master and crew of the container ship Wan Hai 503 (IMO: 9294862), according to The New Indian Express. The DWT 51,300 vessel Wan Hali 503 became a part of a serious incident last week when a cargo fire broke out off the coast of Kerala.

Crew Accused of Negligence

Fort Kochi Coastal Police registered the case following a complaint filed by Suneesh V. P., a resident of Madappally in Kozhikode. The charges have been brought under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and include rash navigation, endangering public ways or navigation, negligent handling of toxic substances, careless conduct involving fire or flammable materials and mishandling of explosives.

All of the listed offences are considered bailable, according to the New Indian Express.

“We received the complaint on Tuesday afternoon and registered a case. The charges are similar to those filed recently against the captain and crew of cargo vessel MSC Elsa-3 that sank off the Kochi coast,” said Sivakumar, the Fort Kochi Coastal Police SHO to The New Indian Express.

According to the FIR, the accused were aware that the cargo vessel was carrying flammable materials, explosives and hazardous chemicals, yet still operated the ship in a careless and negligent manner, endangering human lives. This mishandling reportedly led to a fire onboard on June 9 in the offshore waters near Beypore (LOCODE: INBEY). As a result, fuel and other oils reportedly leaked into the sea, and several containers were lost overboard.

“Additionally, harmful gases and chemicals were released from the burning containers, posing serious risks to the complainant, other fishermen and the overall marine and coastal environment, including marine life and ecosystems,” shared the FIR to the New Indian Express.

The report stated that sunken and drifting containers from the Wan Hai 503 caused obstructions, disrupting fishing operations and hindering vessel traffic in shipping channels and surrounding waters.

Body washed ashore in Arthunkal

On Tuesday, a partially decomposed male body suspected to be one of the four missing crew members washed ashore near the Ayiramthai fishlanding centre, under the jurisdiction of the Arthunkal police, on Tuesday.

Authorities are working to identify the body.