At around 8.40 am local time on 12 June 2025, a container caught fire on board the Interasia Tenacity while the vessel was navigating off the coast of Kerala. Upon receiving a distress call, the Indian Coast Guard deployed the offshore patrol vessel Sachet to assist in firefighting operations, supported by a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft for aerial surveillance and to assess the situation.
Despite the swift deployment of emergency resources, the ship’s captain later informed authorities that the fire had been brought under control by the crew and that no further external assistance was required. However, the Coast Guard and the Navy continued to closely monitor the situation and the ship’s progress towards its destination. This would normally be considered a minor incident were it not for the fact that it marked the second container ship fire off the coast of Kerala in just a few days, following the blaze aboard the Wan Hai 503 on 9 June.
The Wan Hai incident was far more serious, as flames that also originated from a container quickly engulfed the entire vessel, forcing the crew to abandon ship. So far, eighteen seafarers have been rescued while four remain missing. The ship was carrying hazardous materials and fuel, raising concerns about the risk of an environmental disaster. As of 17 June, the fire is reported to be under control, though not yet fully extinguished. Indian authorities managed to tow the ship away from the coast thanks to a daring operation in which three individuals were lowered from a helicopter to the stern and successfully secured a line from the ocean-going tug Offshore Warrior. The wreck of the Wan Hai 503 is now located approximately 45 nautical miles from shore, in waters over one thousand metres deep. No fuel leaks have been detected so far.
These two incidents occurring within such a short time span have led Indian authorities to step up investigations into the container ships involved and to scrutinise the preventive measures adopted by the shipping companies. According to a senior official quoted by the New Indian Express, the fire aboard the Wan Hai 503 was likely triggered by explosives transported without proper safety precautions. Furthermore, the cargo manifest reportedly lacked any mention of such explosives, lending weight to suspicions that the ship was carrying undeclared goods.
On 17 June, the Coastal Police in Fort Kochi filed a report against the shipping company owner, the ship’s captain and crew members. The FIR accuses them of recklessly operating the vessel and potentially endangering human life despite knowing that the containers on board held flammable materials, explosives and hazardous chemicals. The charges invoke sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to reckless navigation, endangerment in public waterways and negligent handling of toxic and combustible substances.
Also in Kerala, on 12 June the High Court ordered the detention of the container ship MSC Manasa F in the port of Vizhinjam following a compensation claim by Indian exporter Mangalath Cashews for the loss of cargo aboard the MSC Elsa 3, which sank off the coast of Alappuzha on 25 May 2025 due to flooding. Cashews has demanded compensation of 180,000 US dollars and the seizure will only be lifted if the requested amount is deposited in court or if adequate security is provided.
