WITH the Zodiac PCTC Morning Midas reported still burning out of control in the northern Pacific a Wan Hai container ship has suffered a massive cargo explosion in waters south-west of India.
According to a bulletin from Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore there was a fire onboard the Singapore-registered container vessel Wan Hai 503, approximately 80 km southwest of Azhikkal, Kerala, India at about 1230hrs on 9 June, (Singapore Time).
The 19-yo, 4,333 TEU vessel owned and operated by Taiwan’s Wan Hai lines, was on a voyage from port Klang to Colombo. Aerial footage appears to show a huge explosion and resultant fire in the forepart of the ship.
MPA said there were 22 crew members onboard. Eighteen crew members had been accounted for and were later reported to have been safely transferred from lifeboats to an Indian Navy ship, which is en route to New Mangalore Port.
However, four crew — two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia — remain missing, with search and rescue operations ongoing. Of the 18 rescued crew, five are reported to have sustained injuries; the injured crew are receiving medical treatment onboard the Indian Navy ship en route to port.
As at 20:30 on 9 June 2025 (Singapore Time), a total of 3 vessels had been deployed by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy to support the SAR operations. Aircraft have also been deployed to assist.
“MPA is in close contact with the vessel’s management company to provide support and is monitoring the situation closely. MPA will be investigating the incident,” the Authority said.
“MPA expresses its appreciation to the Indian authorities for their swift response in recovering the 18 crew and for their support for the ongoing SAR operations. A MPA team is en route to support the Indian authorities.
“Our thoughts are with the crew and their families during this difficult time.”
Meanwhile, the 2006-built, 4,902 CEU Morning Midas, owned by the UK’s Zodiac Maritime Agencies and formerly long-term chartered to EUKOR, is thought to be still afloat around 340 miles south-west ofAdak, Alaska, although weekend speculation suggested it may sink before a tow vessel and experts from appointed salvor Resolve could reach the scene.
Fire broke out in a cargo deck on 3 June during a voyage from Yantai, China to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, with 3,159 vehicles of which 65 are fully electric vehicles and 681 partial hybrid EVs.
After trying but failing to control the fire all 22 crewmembers safely abandoned ship and were rescued by the passing containership Cosco Hellas. Over the weekend US Coast Guard said the fire had spread from the stern of the ship and it was listing.
The latest incidents occur just as global insurer Allianz Commercial warned the PCTC fire was the latest example of an underling safety problem facing seafarers.
In its latest Safety and Shipping Review the company’s Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting,Captain Rahul Khanna, said fires on container ships and car carriers remain a major concern for insurers.
“While regulatory changes are in progress, we cannot say this is a risk that is under control,” said Captain Khanna. “This is still very much a live issue and one that will only get worse [with electrification].”
Image: US Coast Guard (public domain)
Fire is the fourth top cause of shipping incidents in the last decade, Allianz Commercial said. The number of fire incidents on vessels overall was up 20% year-on-year to a decade high of 250, across all vessel types. Approximately 30% of these fire incidents occurred on either container, cargo, or roll-on roll-off vessels.
Despite immediate emergency response efforts by the crew, including the activation of onboard fire suppression systems, the fire’s intensity ultimately forced all 22 crew members to abandon ship. They were safely evacuated via lifeboat and rescued by the merchant vessel Cosco Hellas, with no injuries reported.
You can compare the above footage to the photo below taken a day earlier on June 3, 2025:
Image: US Coast Guard (public domain)
The 600-foot Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) was carrying a total of 3,159 vehicles at the time of the incident, including 65 fully electric vehicles and 681 partial hybrid electric vehicles. The vessel’s fuel stores include approximately 350 metric tons of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil.
A Coast Guard C-130J Super Hercules aircrew from Air Station Kodiak conducts an overflight of a fire aboard the cargo vessel Morning Midas approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska, June 3, 2025. U.S. Coast Guard
Zodiac Maritime, the vessel’s manager, has appointed Resolve Marine to lead salvage operations. The first salvage tug with specialists and specialized equipment is expected to arrive at the scene around June 9, with an additional fire-fighting tug with ocean towage capability being arranged.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the vessel was located approximately 340 miles southwest of Adak.
“The Coast Guard continues to work with Zodiac Maritime to coordinate recovery efforts of the vessel,” the Coast Guard said Friday.
The Morning Midas, a Liberian-flagged vessel built in 2006, departed China on May 26 and was originally scheduled to arrive in Mexico on June 15.