Navy inserts salvage team on burning MV Wan Hai 503; tow passed to tug Offshore Warrior off Kochi
On 13 June 2025 off Kochi, Kerala, a Navy Sea King helicopter winched a salvage team onto the fire-hit Singaporean vessel MV Wan Hai 503, and its tow was transferred to the tug Offshore Warrior.
Summary
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Navy and Indian Air Force transferred the tow of the fire-hit Singaporean container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 to the ocean-going tug Offshore Warrior on 13 June 2025, after the ship began drifting towards the Kerala coast in bad weather. A Navy Sea King helicopter from INS Garuda, Kochi winched a salvage team onto the vessel, which connected a 600-metre tow rope about 20 nautical miles off Kochi; the team was then extracted. The vessel was towed westward and was about 35 nautical miles offshore, escorted by three ICG Offshore Patrol Vessels, with INS Sharda also engaged. The ICG is coordinating with the Directorate General of Shipping to keep the vessel at least 50 nautical miles from the coast.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 13 June 2025, off Kochi, Kerala
- Vessel
- MV Wan Hai 503, Singaporean container ship, on fire
- Tug
- Offshore Warrior; 600-metre tow rope, ~20 nm off Kochi
- Helicopter
- Navy Sea King from INS Garuda, Kochi
- Distance rule
- Keep at least 50 nm from Indian coast (with DG Shipping)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
To which tug was the tow of the fire-hit vessel MV Wan Hai 503 transferred off Kochi on 13 June 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Offshore Warrior
PIB (Defence): the tow of the distressed container vessel was transferred to the ocean-going tug Offshore Warrior on 13 June 2025.
Which Navy helicopter winched the salvage team onto MV Wan Hai 503 on 13 June 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Sea King
PIB (Defence): the salvage team was embarked on a Sea King helicopter at INS Garuda, Kochi and winched down onto the vessel.
Consider the following statements about the MV Wan Hai 503 operation of 13 June 2025: 1. The ICG was coordinating with the Directorate General of Shipping to keep the vessel at least 50 nautical miles from the Indian coast. 2. After the tow was connected, the vessel was towed eastward towards Kochi port. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (Defence): the ICG was coordinating with DG Shipping to keep the vessel at least 50 nm from the coastline, so 1 is correct. The vessel was towed westward, away from the coast, so 2 is wrong. So the answer is 1 only.