INCOIS estimates cargo vessel containers may drift for three more days off Kerala coast

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has informed there is a “70-80%” probability that the containers, persons, debris which went overboard from the vessel ‘Wan Hai 503’ may drift south-southeastwards from the accident location for the next three days off the Kerala coast.

The material including containers are likely to continue to drift in the ocean and might take longer to beach. However, caution is advised about a few containers beaching between Kozhikode and Kochi, it said in a bulletin released on Monday.

The Indian Coast Guard had reported a maritime incident involving the Singapore-flagged Cargo vessel ‘Wan Hai 503’ en route to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, from Colombo after it experienced a container explosion resulting in a significant onboard fire. The vessel was located approximately 70 nautical miles from Kozhikode, Kerala when the incident occurred and the vessel is currently adrift, said Director T. M. Balakrishnan Nair in a press release.

INCOIS institute located in Hyderabad and working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) had deployed its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) output for drifting/missing objects, a state-of-the-art, multi-model operational ocean forecasting system that assimilates real-time observational data from a network of coastal and deep-ocean buoys to estimate the drift of the vessel and containers.

The situation is being closely monitored, and updated drift directions will be provided. An Oil Spill Trajectory System has also been deployed to forecast the movement and dispersion of a simulated oil spill in the marine environment using advanced ocean circulation models.

The simulation outputs help decision-makers assess the possible spread of oil spill, identify vulnerable coastal areas, and coordinate timely and efficient containment and clean-up strategies to minimize ecological damage. The situation is being monitored continuously in close coordination with the Coast Guard, and other stakeholders, to provide updated advisories as needed, said Director T. M. Balakrishnan Nair in a press release.

Published - June 09, 2025 09:51 pm IST