Why is News :
- The Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 caught fire off the Kerala coast, threatening to sink.
- 18 crew members rescued; 4 still missing.
- This is the second major maritime disaster off Kerala in less than a month—following the sinking of MSC ELSA 3 on May 25.
Incident Summary :
- Ship: MV Wan Hai 503, 269 meters long.
- Route: Colombo (June 7) → Mumbai (scheduled for June 10).
- Fire Trigger: Explosion mid-ship; reason unknown.
- Response: 5 Indian Coast Guard ships battling the blaze.
- Risks:
- Ship tilting 10–15°.
- Ongoing explosions in the container bay.
- Environmental hazard if vessel sinks.
Wider Context: MSC ELSA 3 (May 2025)
- Liberian-flagged ship sank off Kerala with over 600 containers.
- Included 13 with hazardous cargo → State declared Environmental Emergency.
- 61 containers washed ashore; 51 recovered by June 9.
- Salvage ops underway to cap underwater oil tanks.
Implications :
Maritime Disaster Preparedness:
- Need for faster containment and rescue protocols.
- Role of Indian Coast Guard in firefighting and oil spill control.
Environmental Risk:
- Threat of oil spill, toxic cargo leakage, and marine pollution.
- Fragile Arabian Sea ecosystem at risk due to recurring incidents.
Policy and Regulation Gaps:
- Scrutiny on hazardous cargo safety.
- Monitoring and enforcement of IMO norms and MARPOL standards.
INDIAN COAST GUARD :
An armed force responsible for protecting India’s maritime interests and enforcing maritime law in territorial waters, contiguous zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Established: 1978, through the Coast Guard Act, 1978.
Status: It is an independent armed force of India (not a part of the Navy).
Parent Ministry: Ministry of Defence.
Headquarters: Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ) – New Delhi.Leadership: Headed by the Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG).
UPSC Relevance :
GS Paper 3 – Disaster Management / Environment
GS Paper 2 – Governance / International Relations
Bilateral Cooperation: Need for closer maritime safety coordination with flag states (Singapore, Liberia); Shipping Oversight: Strengthening role of India’s Directorate General of Shipping; Accountability & Investigation: Port authorities (like Singapore) to ensure liability and probe causes.
Mains Practice Question
Q. With increasing maritime activity along India’s western coast, recent shipping disasters have raised both environmental and safety concerns. Discuss the need for robust maritime disaster response mechanisms and the role of international cooperation in ensuring maritime safety.