News

On June 18 at 6 a.m., the 'Wan Hai 503' wa ins pos. 09°52.70'N, 074°58.23'E, approximately 75 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, moving southwest at a course of 245° at a speed of 1.0 knot. The weather remained challenging, with westerly winds ranging between 22–24 knots and gusting up to 30 knots, accompanied by intermittent rain and poor visibility. The visible fire onboard has continued to subside; white smoke now observed amidshis. 'There was grey smoke forward of the accommodation block, and a minor active flame was noted on the starboard side. No fire was currently visible on the port side of the casualty. Firewatch operations were being maintained onboard through visual surveillance and thermal detection. The towline control was successfully transferred from the 'Offshore Warrior' to the 'Boka Winger' at 09.32 a.m. with the assistance of the 'Water Lily'. The transition was undertaken smoothly and has enabled the 'Offshore Warrior' to return to Kochi for urgent refuelling and provisioning. Firefighting and boundary cooling operations were undertaken in rotation by the 'Boka Winger', 'Saksham' and the 'Water Lily', all of which continued to maintain deck and structural cooling to prevent re-ignition. The salvage team has expanded its operations with firefighting force now prepared to join operations. Eight firefighters will be deployed from Garnet. A second team of 11 salvors wa awaiting mobilisation aboard the 'Saroja Blessing', which remained in port due to issues with the vessel’s master. Efforts were underway to resolve this and redeploy the tug as soon as possible. The 'Triton Liberty', which was previously released, may be requested again to provide interim support if deployment delays persist. Further operational enhancement is expected with the planned mobilisation of the salvage tugs 'GH Voyager' from Singapore and 'Virgo' from Sharjah. These were under technical inspection, and contractual arrangements have been initiated. In addition, a specially procured batch of 15 drums of Pyrocool, a specialised firefighting agent, has been dispatched from the USa, and is expected to reach Dubai by June 21. Once onboarded a support vessel, it is scheduled to reach the site before June 25. The salvage team was also securing high-performance synthetic tow ropes from Singapore, which were pending customs clearance and will be used for improved towing reliability. The firefighting operations have made steady progress, with a visible decline in active flames and a shift from dark to lighter smoke, suggesting the effectiveness of boundary cooling and surface suppression. However, the presence of residual hotspots, particularly near the starboard midship and forward accommodation zones, requires continued attention. The current holding position was considered operationally ideal for logistical access while minimising nearshore risk. The Directorate has advised that holding at this range is optimal to ensure day-return operations for supplies and personnel, without straining support logistics. Despite progress, the absence of a second towline continued to pose a critical risk, particularly with the onset of the southwest monsoon. Tandem towing using a secured chain or wire remained the goal, with plans to undertake the second towline connection once the 'Saroja Blessing' is deployed or an alternate asset becomes available. Sea conditions have improved slightly, with swells around 3–3.5 metres, enabling safer transitions between vessels. The salvage master continues to assess the best strategy for secure long-range towing. Shoreline response operations continued under the supervision of MERC and SpillTech, who were actively monitoring the coast for drifting containers or hazardous debris. The human body who was suspected to be linked to the casualty has been recovered near the Kerala coast, is currently under verification by local authorities. The ship owners have confirmed they are in coordination with police and their legal advisors to manage the identification process with due sensitivity, given the emotional condition of the surviving crew. Discussions regarding the Port of Refuge were ongoing. Jebel Ali and ports in the UAE remained primary candidates, though monsoon-related risks for westward passage were under evaluation. Ports in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore are also being considered. The selection will depend on the vessel's stabilisation, fire extinguishment, and the receiving port's willingness and readiness to manage damaged cargo, hazardous waste, and structural inspections. A comprehensive criteria matrix is being developed by the salvage team to facilitate formal submissions to the identified ports. Environmental risk remaineds moderate at this stage, with no visible oil sheen or spill observed. The ITOPF continued to support shoreline risk modelling, while P&I Club representatives were coordinating with local authorities for potential claims processes related to cleanup and third-party damages. The Directorate remained in continuous coordination with all relevant stakeholders and is actively supervising the evolving operational plan to ensure that stabilisation, firefighting, and safe relocation of the vessel remain on track.

The cranes at several container terminals in Rotterdam were in mourning mode on June 20 after the death of two workers on the 'Ronny O' on the site of C.Steinweg Handelsveem in the Waalhaven, near Heijplaat.. The gantries of the cranes were raised out of respect and nothing was unloaded for a while. When it became known in the port that two employees had died, all container terminals decided to halt operations. Both victims were in the cargo hold of the 'Ronny O', when the accident happened, while they were unloading steel plates. The cause is still being investigated. The Labour Inspectorate is leading the investigation. The company was now focusing on the relatives and could not yet say anything about what happened. Report with photos: https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/2029155/containerkranen-in-rouwstand-als-eerbetoon-aan-omgekomen-collegas

On the early morning of June 19, the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted by the Northern Border Police, who postponed the departure of a migrant boat off Sangatte beach. The CROSS deployed the patrol boat 'Flamant' to locate the boat. Once on the scene, the patrol boat noticed that the boat was overloaded and that 16 migrants were in the water, wearing life jackets. The patrol boat immediately launched its lifeboat and recovered all 16 castaways, while the remaining occupants continued their voyage to British waters. Shortly afterwards, the patrol boat transferred the 16 migrants to the 'SNS 067-Mona Rigolet' from the SNSM station, which in Calais, which transferred them to the port of Calais, where they were taken into care by government resources.

On Juen 19, the German-flagged sailing yacht 'Faule Haut' went adrift and requested assistance west of Dragonera. The CCS Palma of Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Libertas', which took the boat in tow and safeöy pulled it to Puerto de Andratx.

On the early morning of June 19, the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted by the Northern Border Police, who postponed the departure of a migrant boat off Sangatte beach. The CROSS deployed the 'Flamant' to locate the boat. Once on the scene, the patrol boat noticed that the boat was overloaded and that 16 migrants were in the water, wearing life jackets. The patrol boat immediately launched its lifeboat and recovered all 16 castaways, while the remaining occupants continued their voyage to British waters. Shortly afterwards, the patrol boat transferred the 16 migrants to the all-weather boat 'SNS 067-Mona Rigolet' from the SNSM station, which in Calais, which transferred them to the port of Calais, where they were taken into care by government resources.