Kerala sounds alert amid suspected hazardous substance leak from capsized cargo ship
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a public warning following reports from the Indian Coast Guard of a possible leak of hazardous substances from a capsized container vessel off the state's coast, an official said on Sunday.
The cargo reportedly fell from the Liberian-flagged ship MSC ELSA 3, which was on Saturday en route to Kochi port from Vizhinjam before it sank in the Arabian Sea.
In response to the environmental threat and potential public safety hazards, the Kerala government has launched urgent containment measures.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed to manage the risk of drifting cargo containers and a possible coastal oil spill.
A high-level emergency meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary directed the Factories and Boilers Department and the Pollution Control Board to constitute the RRTs.
The District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), police, and other key agencies have been instructed to provide all necessary assistance for emergency operations.
According to official sources, MSC ELSA 3 sank approximately 14.6 nautical miles (around 27 km) off the Thottappally coast.
Nearly 100 containers are believed to have fallen into the sea, with many now drifting towards the shore at a speed of around 3 kmph.
The Indian Coast Guard has launched a full-scale containment operation.
Two Coast Guard ships are currently engaged in the area, while a Dornier aircraft is being used to spray chemical dispersants over the affected zone.
The Director General of the Coast Guard, who also leads the National Oil Spill Response Plan, is personally supervising the operations.
In anticipation of oil settling on the seabed, the state government is preparing a contingency plan involving coordinated underwater cleanup efforts.
This will be a joint operation involving the Coast Guard, Navy, Forest Department, and the Factories and Boilers Department.
To bolster precautionary measures, the Port Department, Coast Guard, and Navy have been instructed to mobilise additional booms and skimmers to contain any potential oil spread.
District-level task forces have also been activated to address various emergency scenarios, including recovery of containers, shoreline cleanup, and marine pollution control.
A public advisory has been issued urging coastal residents to stay at least 200 metres away from any unfamiliar objects or containers that may wash ashore.
Citizens are requested to immediately alert authorities by dialling the emergency number 112 and are advised not to gather near such sites.
Fishermen have been strongly advised against venturing into deep-sea waters, particularly within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the incident site.
They have also been warned not to approach or handle any floating containers or suspected hazardous materials they may encounter at sea.
Officials have emphasized that the immediate priorities are to ensure public safety, prevent environmental damage, and protect the livelihoods of the local fishing communities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Firefighting efforts intensify aboard Singapore vessel after explosion off Kerala coast
In a major step forward, a team of salvage experts and Coast Guard divers managed to board the vessel. 'Around 40 per cent of the fire has now been brought under control. The vessel remains afloat but unmanned and is slowly drifting southeast in the Arabian Sea,' according to updates shared by the Director General of Shipping. Kochi/Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) Indian Coast Guard and other agencies are working around the clock to contain a large fire aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire earlier this week after a container exploded off Kerala coast while en route to Mumbai from Colombo. This included the Salvage Master, who is now monitoring the situation from onboard. Efforts now focus on keeping the vessel away from the coast and fully extinguishing the fire, the authorities said. The firefighting efforts, focused on the ship's forward cargo holds, are being led by Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Samarth. They are using foam and boundary cooling to stop the fire from spreading. 'Hydrocarbon vapours have been observed by the salvage master, indicating possible heat transfer near fuel tanks. Continuous onboard assessments are being conducted to monitor any escalation,' the DG Shipping said. At the same time, Rajdoot, Arnvesh, Abhinav, and ICGS 513 are carrying out search and rescue operations in the area. Of the 22 crew members on board the vessel, 18 were rescued while four remain missing. After an earlier attempt failed, a tow connection was successfully made between the cargo ship and the Emergency Towing Vessel Water Lily, as well as a Coast Guard asset. This was achieved through joint efforts by the Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC) and ICG personnel. Authorities say there is still risk due to hazardous cargo and hydrocarbon vapours near the fuel tanks. However, officials from the Directorate General of Shipping say stabilisation work is ongoing, and daily meetings are being held with all involved, including the Indian Navy, maritime agencies, and the ship's owners. The Coast Guard also flew in five team members– including three salvage experts and two rescue divers –to support the operation. Extra firefighting supplies, including more foam and dry chemical powder, are being sent in to assist the crew battling the blaze, officials said. PTI IAS/TGB TGB ROH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'Undeclared Hazards, Illegal Registrations': Singapore Ship Blaze Exposes Loopholes, Ecological Risks
Last Updated: Govt reports suggest these incidents have shown that the abuse of Flags of Convenience (FoC) is not just a loophole but a deliberate strategy for profit at the expense of safety. India is facing significant ecological and social costs due to the mishandling of ships by third countries, government sources have told CNN-News18. Government sources have raised serious concerns following recent coastal accidents. The sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 in May 2025 and the MV Wan Hai 503 fire in June 2025 have highlighted significant flaws in the maritime system. The fire on the MV Wan Hai 503 poses a severe risk to Indian coasts. Government reports suggest that these incidents have shown that the abuse of Flags of Convenience (FoC) is not merely a loophole but a deliberate strategy for profit at the expense of safety. Currently, 45 per cent of global tonnage sails under FoCs, creating a conflict between sovereign accountability and negligent convenience. The MV Wan Hai 503, carrying 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel, is a significant oil spill threat. Government sources warn that a breach in the vessel could lead to a catastrophic spill, contaminating Kerala's coastline from Kozhikode to Kochi during the monsoon season. Additionally, the ship has 157 containers of hazardous materials, including pesticides (Class 6.1), lithium batteries (Class 9), and flammable liquids (Class 3), posing risks of toxic cargo leakage. These substances could leach toxins into marine ecosystems and be carried ashore by monsoon waves, threatening fish stocks and coastal habitats. Already, 40–50 containers have fallen overboard and are drifting towards Kerala's coast, sources said. Government inspections have been criticised for being perfunctory, often relying on paperwork over physical checks. For example, the MSC Elsa 3 had 21 deficiencies noted in Rotterdam but was never declared unseaworthy. Inadequate risk profiling allows ships with repeated violations, like the MSC Elsa 3 with its flag-hopping history, to evade scrutiny. Although the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations (SCMTR) of 2018 mandate digital manifests for hazardous goods, the MV Wan Hai 503 carried undeclared explosives among its hazardous cargo. Local authorities in Kerala were also criticised for failing to issue timely public advisories regarding the MSC Elsa 3's calcium carbide cargo. There are serious accountability gaps in the system, with FoC abuse being very common. According to government data, 45 per cent of global shipping tonnage is registered under Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands, enabling regulatory evasion through lax oversight, tax avoidance, and weak labour enforcement standards. For instance, the MSC Elsa 3, which sank with 13 undeclared hazardous containers, was registered under the Liberian flag. Similarly, the Wan Hai 503 was Singaporean-flagged but owned by Taiwanese interests, with hazardous cargo misdeclaration suspected in the explosions. FoC states often lack the resources for thorough investigations, delaying liability attribution and compensation. Liberia, for example, ignored India's probe into the MSC Elsa 3 incident. FoC states like Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands outsource vessel inspections to private agencies, leading to cursory checks and certification. The MSC Elsa 3, despite its 21 deficiencies, was never declared unseaworthy. The Wan Hai 503, carrying 157 containers of hazardous materials including undeclared explosives and lithium batteries, also exemplifies this issue. These incidents reflect broader systemic problems, including the hiring of cheap, inexperienced labour to cut costs, sources point out. The Wan Hai 503's crew, lacking training in hazardous cargo management, delayed fire containment efforts, leading to the loss of four crew members during evacuation and inadequate emergency protocols. The MSC Elsa 3's underwater fuel tanks posed a significant oil spill risk affecting 200 km of coastline. FoC states often avoid funding cleanups, shifting the burden to coastal states. Following these incidents, Kerala banned fishing, severely impacting communities during peak season and causing a 40% drop in tourism revenue post-Elsa 3 due to pollution fears. Furthermore, the MSC Elsa 3 criminal case remains stalled due to Liberia's non-cooperation, while the Wan Hai 503 owners delayed sharing cargo manifests. AIS manipulation is another issue, as FoC vessels often deactivate trackers to hide their locations. Government sources report that GPS jumps increased from 600 km in 2024 to 6,300 km in 2025, raising collision risks. Shadow fleets under FoCs like Panama are known to transport illegal goods, with 29 per cent of global vessels using FoCs to facilitate arms and drug smuggling. The mishandling of ships by third countries under FoCs poses significant ecological and social risks to India, necessitating urgent systemic reforms and stricter regulatory oversight. First Published: June 12, 2025, 11:38 IST News india 'Undeclared Hazards, Illegal Registrations': Singapore Ship Blaze Exposes Loopholes, Ecological Risks
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Firefighting efforts intensify aboard Singapore vessel after explosion off Kerala coast
Indian Coast Guard and other agencies are working around the clock to contain a large fire aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire earlier this week after a container exploded off Kerala coast while en route to Mumbai from Colombo. 'Around 40 per cent of the fire has now been brought under control. The vessel remains afloat but unmanned and is slowly drifting southeast in the Arabian Sea,' according to updates shared by the Director General of Shipping. In a major step forward, a team of salvage experts and Coast Guard divers managed to board the vessel. This included the Salvage Master, who is now monitoring the situation from onboard. Efforts now focus on keeping the vessel away from the coast and fully extinguishing the fire, the authorities said. The firefighting efforts, focused on the ship's forward cargo holds, are being led by Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Samarth. They are using foam and boundary cooling to stop the fire from spreading. 'Hydrocarbon vapours have been observed by the salvage master, indicating possible heat transfer near fuel tanks. Continuous onboard assessments are being conducted to monitor any escalation,' the DG Shipping said. At the same time, Rajdoot, Arnvesh, Abhinav, and ICGS 513 are carrying out search and rescue operations in the area. Of the 22 crew members on board the vessel, 18 were rescued while four remain missing. After an earlier attempt failed, a tow connection was successfully made between the cargo ship and the Emergency Towing Vessel Water Lily, as well as a Coast Guard asset. This was achieved through joint efforts by the Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC) and ICG personnel. Authorities say there is still risk due to hazardous cargo and hydrocarbon vapours near the fuel tanks. However, officials from the Directorate General of Shipping say stabilisation work is ongoing, and daily meetings are being held with all involved, including the Indian Navy, maritime agencies, and the ship's owners. The Coast Guard also flew in five team members– including three salvage experts and two rescue divers –to support the operation. Extra firefighting supplies, including more foam and dry chemical powder, are being sent in to assist the crew battling the blaze, officials said. PTI
