China Thanks India for Rescuing Crew of Fire-Hit Cargo Vessel off Kerala Coast

11 June, 2025:

China has expressed its gratitude to India for the swift and successful rescue of crew members aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire off the Kerala coast on June 9.

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank the Indian Navy and the Mumbai-based Indian Coast Guard for their prompt response. Of the 22 crew members on board, 14 were Chinese nationals.

"On June 9, MV Wan Hai 503 encountered onboard explosion and fire 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal, Kerala. Of the total 22 crew members on board, 14 are Chinese, including 6 from Taiwan. Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue," Yu Jing wrote on X. 

"Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue. We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members a speedy recovery," she further added. 

The ship had 22 crew members on board at the time of the incident, including 14 Chinese nationals, six of whom are from Taiwan, according to Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India.

In a swift response, the Indian Navy diverted INS Surat, which was originally scheduled to dock in Kochi, to extend immediate support. The Indian Coast Guard deployed multiple assets, including ICGS Rajdoot from off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh from off Kochi, and ICGS Sachet from off Agatti. A Coast Guard Dornier aircraft on patrol was also redirected for aerial assessment of the situation. 

Authorities, on Tuesday, issued an oil spill advisory while a Chinese engineer rescued from the burning vessel suffered critical injuries, PTI reported.