Decomposed body found on Alappuzha coast may be crew member from MV Wan Hai 503

ALAPPUZHA: A decomposed male body, believed to be four days old, was discovered washed ashore near Arthunkal Harbour on Tuesday, June 17, sparking speculation that it could be one of the missing crew from the fire-stricken container ship MV Wan Hai 503. The body was found by local fishermen near Aayiramthai Fish Land under Arthunkal Police Station limits. Police have informed the Coastal Police and the Deputy Collector, and efforts are underway to identify the deceased.

Authorities suspect the body might belong to one of the four missing crew members from the Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire off the Kerala coast on June 9. The Indian Coast Guard had rescued 18 of the vessel’s 22-member crew. Confirmation of identity is pending.

Salvage operations struggle amid monsoon fury

Meanwhile, salvage operations on MV Wan Hai 503 and another disabled vessel, MSC ELSA 3, remain stalled due to intense monsoon conditions. The MV Wan Hai 503, still offshore, holds hazardous cargo including heavy fuel oil and partially burned chemicals. The forward section continues to emit toxic fumes, requiring constant firefighting vigilance.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast westerly winds of 50–60 kmph, high seas with 3.5–4 metre swells, and heavy rainfall, leaving a shrinking window for safe operations. Discussions are underway to tow MV Wan Hai 503 to a port of refuge in the Middle East, but this depends on full fire containment.

In the case of MSC ELSA 3, delays in oil removal have led to a change in salvors, with new contractors to be appointed for extraction once conditions improve. The environmental threat from unextracted fuel remains a concern.

• Cargo Ship Blaze: Crew Critical, Firefighting Ongoing
• Container ship explosion leaves 4 missing, fire continues despite Coast Guard ops

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