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Wan Hai Lines - Statement on Fire Incident Aboard WAN HAI 503 Vessel
2025/06/15

Wan Hai Lines - Statement on Fire Incident Aboard WAN HAI 503 Vessel 

​**Date: June 15, 2025**
 

On June 9, 2025 (GMT +8 hrs), Wan Hai Lines notified relevant authorities and media that earlier that same day, during its voyage in the Indian Ocean 54 nautical miles off the west coast of India, the Singapore flagged vessel WAN HAI 503 vessel (Chinese name: “Wan Chun Lun”), operated by our company, reported a fire on board after detecting thick smoke. 

 

Wan Hai activated its emergency response teams on board the ship, and in our offices in Taipei, Singapore and in Mumbai immediately.  It also began closely coordinating with the crew, relevant coastal state authorities in India and flag state authorities in Singapore, and insurance providers, to carry out emergency response procedures.  No oil pollution was reported.  

 

After joint assessment by the ship’s master and local Indian maritime Navy and Coast Guard authorities on the ground, and in accordance with international maritime regulations, the crew was ordered to abandon ship to ensure their safety.

 

There were 22 crew members aboard. Of these, 4 were missing; 2 from Taiwan , and 1 each from Indonesia and Myanmar.  Search and rescue efforts to locate the 4 missing seafarers began immediately and are still on-going at this time.  Wan Hai is already in close touch with the family members of the missing crew members.

 

The remaining 18 crew members were safely evacuated with the assistance of rapid intervention by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. Initially five crew members were hospitalised due to injuries.  After further medical assessment, one additional crew members with minor injuries was also admitted as a precaution, bringing the total to six.  He has since been discharged after examination and treatment.

 

With the assistance of relevant agencies, the rescued and recovered crew members have been properly accommodated and are receiving the necessary medical and follow up care.

 

On 10 June 2025, Wan Hai, in consultation with the Indian maritime authorities, appointed an international salvage company, T&T Salvage, to coordinate with the Indian authorities and attend to the salvage of the Wan Hai 503.  T&T immediately dispatched their ocean going tug Offshore Warrior to the scene.

 

On 13 June 2025, at around 1700 hours, with the assistance of the Indian Navy, a salvage team was winched onto the deck of the Wan Hai 503 from an Indian navy helicopter.  Subsequently, the team managed to connect a tow rope to the Offshore Warrior to secure the Wan Hai 503. Additionally, T&T Salvage also deployed 3 fire fighting tugs – Garnet, Saksham, Water Lilly and Triton.  Two more salvage vessels are scheduled to arrive on scene today – Saroja Blessing and Boka Winger.

 

The WAN HAI 503 is currently being towed westwards away from the Indian coastline to protect the Indian coastline, and its maritime and fisheries resources.

 

Wan Hai continues to actively work with Indian maritime authorities, the salvors and insurance providers to continue search and rescue for the missing crew members, and to protect the Indian coast and its marine environment.  The salvors will also attempt to protect the remaining cargo on board, and conduct risk evaluation for the ensuing ship salvage operations. 

 

Wan Hai and our crew members are deeply grateful to the Indian authorities – the Directorate General of Shipping, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for their rapid response to our master’s call for assistance.  Their heroic intervention helped prevent further loss of life and injuries to our crew, and the total loss of the ship.

 

[Wan Hai deeply regrets this incident and any losses arising from it.  The Company is doing its utmost to locate our missing crew members, care for our rescued seafarers, and secure the ship.]  We acknowledge the genuine concerns expressed by Indian maritime authorities of the risks of damage to their coastlines and marine environment. We have instructed our salvors to prioritize protection of the marine environment in their on-going salvage operations.

 

In addition to T&T Salvage, TMC Marine, a member of the international ship classification society Bureau Veritas group, was also appointed as consultants to advise and assist Wan Hai and its insurers in the on-going salvage operations.  

 

The WAN HAI 503 sails under the Singaporean flag and operates on the South China–India route in a joint service with Evergreen Marine Corp and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.  Authorities are assessing all cargo and possible origins.  Wan Hai is actively assisting with the on-going investigations by the Indian coastal state and the Singapore flag state authorities into this incident.

 

We will provide timely updates as more information becomes available.  

 

If you have any questions and need any further information on your cargo, please reach out to your local representative. We will update you as more become available.

 

Photographs of the WAN HAI 503 at berth, and at the incident site, together with the Vessel’s fact sheet, are appended.

 

萬海航運 - 關於 WAN HAI 503「旺春輪」船舶火災事件說明 

日期: 2025.06.15

 

2025 年 6 月 9 日（GMT+8 時間），本公司營運的新加坡籍「WAN HAI 503」輪（中文名：「旺春輪」）在印度洋、距印度西岸約 54 海里航行期間，船上發現濃煙並通報發生火災。

 

萬海立即啟動設於船上、台北、新加坡及孟買辦公室的緊急應變小組，並與船員、印度當地主管機關、新加坡船旗國主管機關及保險公司密切合作，執行應變措施。

 

根據現場回報及相關單位初步評估，目前本次事故未造成任何油污染情形。

 

經船長與印度當地海軍與海巡單位聯合研判，並依國際海事規範，為確保全體船員人身安全，船員已被指示進行棄船程序。

 

船上共 22 名船員，其中 4 名失蹤，包括來自台灣 2 人、印尼 1 人及緬甸 1 人。目前搜救行動仍在持續進行中。萬海已與失蹤船員的家屬密切聯繫，並提供必要協助。

 

其餘 18 名船員已在印度海軍與海巡單位迅速協助下安全撤離。初步有 5 人因受傷送醫，後經醫療評估，另 1 名輕傷船員出於預防性考量亦被安排就醫，使受傷船員總數達 6 人，目前其中 1 人已完成治療出院。

 

在相關機關協助下，已撤離的船員均獲妥善安置，並接受必要的醫療與後續照護。

 

2025 年 6 月 10 日，萬海在與印度主管機關協商後，委任國際海事救助公司 T&T Salvage 負責協調本次救助作業，並即刻派遣遠洋拖船「Offshore Warrior」前往現場。

 

2025 年 6 月 13 日約 17:00 時，在印度海軍協助下，T&T 救助團隊自印度海軍直升機吊掛至「WAN HAI 503」甲板，成功與「Offshore Warrior」完成拖帶連結。此外，T&T 亦部署三艘消防拖船「Garnet」、「Saksham」、「Water Lilly」及「Triton」，另有兩艘救助船「Saroja Blessing」與「Boka Winger」預計當日抵達事故海域。

 

目前「WAN HAI 503」正被拖往遠離印度海岸的西方海域，以保護印度沿岸的海洋與漁業資源。

 

萬海將持續與印度海事單位、救助公司及保險公司積極合作，進行搜救失蹤船員、保護貨物安全及評估後續船舶救助風險等作業。救助團隊亦將盡力保護船上剩餘貨物，並持續強化對海洋環境的防護。

 

萬海與全體船員對印度政府——特別是航運總署、印度海軍及海巡單位在接獲船長求援後即時應變、迅速協助——表達最深謝意。其英勇介入避免了進一步人員傷亡與船舶全損的情況。

 

萬海對此次事故與所造成之損失深感遺憾，並全力協助尋回失蹤船員、照護已撤離船員，以及妥善處理船舶與貨物後續事宜。我們亦理解印度主管機關對沿海與海洋環境保護的重視，已指示救助單位優先保障當地海域環境安全。

 

除 T&T Salvage 外，萬海亦委任國際驗船協會 Bureau Veritas 旗下成員 TMC Marine 擔任顧問，協助萬海與保險單位共同進行本次救助行動。

 

「WAN HAI 503」為新加坡籍船舶，營運於「中國華南－印度」航線，與長榮海運及德國 Hapag-Lloyd 為聯營夥伴。目前火災原因仍在調查中，相關單位已著手釐清各項貨載與可能起火源頭，萬海將全力配合印度與新加坡主管機關的聯合調查作業。

萬海將視情況提供最新資訊更新。

 

如果您有任何疑問或需要獲取更多關於您的貨物的信息，請聯繫您當地的業務代表。如有更多信息時我們將及時更新給您。

 

（附件：「WAN HAI 503」靠泊與事故現場照片，以及船舶基本資料）





20250609 萬海航運說明WH503事件
 

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