Explosion and fire aboard container vessel en route to India; PVC cargo affected

A container vessel, MV Wan Hai 503, suffered an explosion followed by a fire on 9 June while en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Nhava Sheva, India. The incident occurred off the Indian coast, rendering the vessel immobilised as emergency response operations continue.

Indian maritime authorities, in coordination with the vessel’s operator, are leading ongoing firefighting and salvage efforts. While the full scope of the damage is still under assessment, initial reports indicate that several containers may have been damaged or lost as a result of the incident.

The Wan Hai 503, a feeder-class vessel, typically operates across key regional trade routes in South and East Asia, servicing ports including Port Klang, Singapore, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shekou, Colombo and Nhava Sheva. Feeder vessels such as this are integral to regional logistics, transporting containerised cargo between major transhipment hubs and smaller terminals with draft limitations.

Several Indian importers have confirmed that containers carrying Taiwanese-origin PVC were onboard at the time of the incident. “We have 350 tons of Taiwanese PVC onboard. At the moment, we are unsure about the status of these containers,” one buyer reported. Other importers are said to be seeking updates from the shipping line concerning cargo status and insurance claims.

Despite the disruption, market participants do not anticipate an immediate impact on PVC supply dynamics in India. Domestic inventory levels remain adequate, and demand is subdued amid seasonal off-peak conditions. Nevertheless, some traders have flagged the potential for tighter availability in July, particularly if import arrivals—especially from China—fall short of expectations.

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