Nearly two months ago, the vessel Wan Hai 503 experienced a fire and explosion off the coast of Kerala, resulting in crew members being killed or missing. According to reports, Indian authorities have now abandoned the salvage operation.

In early July, when the Wan Hai 503 was towed out of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Indian Coast Guard and Navy continued to provide support because the vessel had not yet been stabilized.

The Wan Hai 503 has since been towed farther away, beyond India’s EEZ, and is now approximately 90 nautical miles off the Sri Lankan coast. It is understood that India has withdrawn its assistance, and the damaged ship is now under the responsibility of its flag state, Singapore.

Discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of designating Hambantota as a place of refuge for the Wan Hai 503, involving Sri Lankan authorities and the salvage team.

On July 22, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) of India reported:

“As part of the mid-term operational plan, progress has been made in identifying a port of refuge. T&T Salvage, together with Wan Hai Lines, has conducted discussions and on-site inspections with the identified port authorities and port waste management contractors.”

In the planned two-phase salvage process, the Wan Hai 503 will first be towed near the port for final dewatering and condition assessment. “Once pre-arrival conditions are met,” the vessel will then enter the port.

It is understood that a Sri Lankan port operated by China Merchants is willing to receive the ship, and a proposal has been submitted to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Opinions differ on whether Sri Lankan authorities will agree to the plan.

The fire inside the cargo holds continues to burn, but authorities have stated that it is now under control, boundary cooling is ongoing, the vessel is stable, and—according to DGS—the salvage team is now stationed on board continuously.

One source noted that the pollution caused by the sinking of the X-Press Pearl four years ago, and the recent $1 billion compensation ruling by a Sri Lankan court against its owners (following the destruction of about 1,500 containers), could make authorities hesitant to approve the Hambantota refuge plan.

Another source confirmed that no formal request for a port-of-refuge agreement has yet been sent to Hambantota, adding:

“The shipowner and salvors will cover the costs of the salvage operation, which is very different from the X-Press Pearl incident.”

The Wan Hai 503 has been afloat for nearly two months. Sources indicated that even under adverse weather conditions, the vessel has remained buoyant, most of its cargo has already been destroyed by fire, and flooding in the engine room has been resolved, making the vessel currently considered safe.