Containers from capsized Liberian ship wash ashore on Thiruvananthapuram coast in Kerala
Several containers and cargo parcels from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, MSC Elsa 3, washed ashore at Anchuthengu, Ayiroor, Varkala, Muthalapozhy, Mampalli and Idava beaches in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala early Tuesday.
The local administration has deployed police personnel to ensure that nobody tampers with the containers, which may contain hazardous chemicals or inflammable material.
The Customs department had notified the government that the vessel stacked 643 transhipment containers on the main deck.
The cargo hold contained 13 containers transporting calcium carbide. The hazardous chemical causes an exothermic reaction, producing highly flammable calcium hydroxide and acetylene gas when it reacts with water.
The flotsam from the shipwreck also included blue-coloured parcels, possibly containing chemical dyes and other raw materials used in textile manufacturing.
Member Secretary, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, KSDMA, Shekhar Kuriakose, had warned people to maintain a minimum distance of 200 m from the shipwreck detritus.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has informed the government that more containers will likely run ashore along Kerala's coastline.
The government stated that more containers were bobbing dangerously in the sea, buffeted by high waves and strong winds. The wreckage posed a dire threat to passing ships and smaller vessels, including trawlers and fishing boats.
Hence, the government has banned fishing activities within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the shipwreck location.
The ICG and maritime authorities have issued notices to mariners, advising them to exercise caution when navigating the floating debris field.
The shipping company has contracted a private firm to assist authorities in corralling the floating containers and salvaging those stowed away in the submerged vessel's cargo hold.
The container ship, which had set course for Kochi from Vizhinjam, foundered after encountering heavy weather 38 km southwest of its port of call early Sunday.
A perilous combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure and perhaps unbalanced cargo reportedly caused the ship to list heavily before capsizing and sinking.
The Coast Guard rescued the ship's crew, comprising up to 21 individuals from various nationalities, including Russia and the Philippines.
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