Wan Hai 503 cargo removal concludes months after major fire

After months of salvage operations and nearly six months after the fire was extinguished, the owners of the container vessel Wan Hai 503, Wan Hai Lines, reported that the removal of cargo from the ship has been completed.

According to the company statement, the discharge of distressed cargo from the cargo holds has been finished, while the removal of cargo residue and waste from Cargo Holds 3 and 4 is still ongoing.

Cargo Hold 4 requires additional time due to the large amount of slurry present. At the same time, operations to discharge firefighting water from the cargo holds are continuing, with approximately 11,675 tonnes of water removed so far.

To remind, the fire and explosions aboard Wan Hai 503 occurred in the late morning of 9 June 2025, while the vessel was en route from Colombo to Mumbai, approximately 78–88 nautical miles off Beypore, Kerala.

The ship had 22 crew members on board at the time of the incident. Following the explosions and fire, the vessel remained in limbo as it sought a port of refuge, ultimately securing a berth in Jebel Ali, UAE.

source : safety4sea