‘World Oceans Day' held at INCOIS
The role of the ocean in biological productivity and its changes due to global warming, coastal resilience, and the need for collaborative work of research and academic organisations with the coastal community was highlighted by scientists, researchers and academicians on the occasion of 'World Oceans Day' held at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) on Monday.
Goa University V-C Harilal Menon delivered a special talk on 'From coastline to community: partnering for resilience in an ocean warming scenario.
INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, scientists Hasibur Rahaman, N. Suresh Kumar, Trishneeta Bhattacharya, chairman of Telangana Higher Education Council (TGCHE) V. Balakista Reddy and others spoke, said a press release.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Toxic cargo poses threat to marine life
1 2 3 Kozhikode: The marine life and ecology in the Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast face serious threat if the hazardous chemicals aboard the Singapore-flagged vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which is on fire, were to leak into the sea, especially during the ongoing fish breeding season. The vessel is now 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal coast. The ship is carrying tonnes of highly dangerous substances, including 16 officially classified marine pollutants and dozens of other toxic chemicals. Some of them are known carcinogens which can have long-term impact on marine ecology as well as human health. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI ) has started collecting seawater samples to check for chemical presence. The chemicals which have chronic marine toxicity in the cargo manifest include trichlorobenzene which affects aquatic life, hydroquinone which also has mutagenic potential and tetrachloroethylene which is a probable carcinogen among many others. CMFRI Kozhikode regional station head Anulekshmi Chellappan said the hazardous and toxic chemicals, as per the list shared, if leaked to the sea, may negatively affect the marine life, especially since it is the fish breeding season. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Dividend Stocks for May 2025 Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo However, the extent of the impact can only be determined after a detailed scientific study and understanding of the spilled items and their magnitude. "We've already started collecting and testing water samples and sediments from coastal waters of Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Fish samples are also being taken from traditional vessels. Based on prevailing southern and southeastern currents and advisories from Incois, the effects are likely to be felt most significantly in the districts from Kozhikode to Kochi," she said. She said of the 157 listed substances aboard the vessel, at least 43 are classified as marine pollutants. "Pollutants from ship could still harm marine ecosystems," she said. "We have initiated a study and monitoring to estimate how much of the ship spills, hazardous substances listed in the cargo manifest would impact marine organisms," she said. Anulekshmi added that the small-scale fisheries are operating close to shore far away from accident area and this is a ban period for mechanised fishing operated mostly in offshore waters. Kufos aquatic environment department head Anu Gopinath said the incident involving MV Wan Hai would pose a more serious threat to marine life and ecology when compared to the recent sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off Kochi coast. "What is of concern is the huge quantity of hazardous substances in the cargo. There are category 6 pesticides and many other toxic substances. If they reach the sea, then the damage could be huge. It might not manifest in the next few days or weeks, and we have to look at the effect of the chemicals on the Kerala coast and marine environment in the long term. We need to do comprehensive long-term monitoring to see the extent of the spread and see if the marine life is having a concentration of the chemicals," she said. Gopinath added that apart from fish which has some ability to evade adverse conditions like these, other sedentary marine life forms and microorganisms would also be most affected.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
‘World Oceans Day' held at INCOIS
The role of the ocean in biological productivity and its changes due to global warming, coastal resilience, and the need for collaborative work of research and academic organisations with the coastal community was highlighted by scientists, researchers and academicians on the occasion of 'World Oceans Day' held at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) on Monday. Goa University V-C Harilal Menon delivered a special talk on 'From coastline to community: partnering for resilience in an ocean warming scenario. INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, scientists Hasibur Rahaman, N. Suresh Kumar, Trishneeta Bhattacharya, chairman of Telangana Higher Education Council (TGCHE) V. Balakista Reddy and others spoke, said a press release.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
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.
