Kerala declares Liberian ship capsize as a state-specific disaster, CMFRI begins study
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Thursday declared the wreckage of the Liberian ship M/s ELSA 3 in the Arabian Sea 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast as a state-specific disaster.
A statement issued from the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the ship, M/s MSC ELSA-3, carrying more than 643 containers, was reported to have capsized on May 25 off the Kerala Coast near Thottappalli in Alappuzha District.
"The maritime incident has raised serious environmental concerns, including the potential for an oil spill and drifting of debris, including cargo, along Kerala's coastline. Considering the potentially serious environmental, social, and economic impact of the ship wreckage, the Government hereby declare the wreckage of the ship M/s ELSA 3 in the Arabian Sea 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast as a State-Specific disaster," said the statement.
This fresh development comes at a time when the Kerala government is seriously contemplating legal proceedings against the ship's owners after fishermen's associations have demanded appropriate compensation, fearing that the chemicals could cause long-term damage to marine life and jeopardise their livelihoods.
The Vijayan government is awaiting a response from legal experts dealing with marine topics to go forward with legal steps.
On Thursday, the containers that had been cleared from near the coast of Kollam and were being readied for transportation caught fire.
But the fire was quickly doused.
The vessel, which had reported listing approximately 38 nautical miles off the Kochi coast, ultimately sank into the Arabian Sea on Sunday morning.
In a related development, the ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on Thursday launched a study to assess the changes in the marine environment following the shipwreck.
The study is currently being conducted by four different teams on the coastal areas of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
The teams are collecting water, phytoplankton and sediment samples from 10 stations in these districts at regular intervals for the investigation.
According to CMFRI Director Grinson George, the study aims to understand various types of marine pollution associated with the shipwreck.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- India Gazette
AAP's Sanjay Singh requests PM Modi to brief on Operation Sindoor, ceasefire decision in special session of Parliament
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to immediately call a special session of Parliament to provide a comprehensive briefing on Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire decision between India and Pakistan. In his letter to PM Modi, Sanjay Singh said that after the Pahalgam attack on April 22, and India's response on May 7, the government conducted two all-party meetings, but the Prime Minister was absent from both of them. 'The Government conducted two all-party meetings to brief political parties about the operation. Regrettably, you, the Prime Minister of India, were not present at either. Your absence has been deeply felt by all parties, and more importantly, by the people of India who expected a strong and unifying presence from their leader at such a crucial moment,' the AAP MP said. Singh said that they were surprised to learn about the cessation of hostilities between the two nations through a tweet by US President Donald Trump. 'Just as the momentum was building and the Indian Army was perceived to be in a strong position to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), we were surprised to learn of an immediate ceasefire through a tweet by the U.S. President Donald Trump. He claimed that both India and Pakistan had been threatened with trade sanctions unless they agreed to a ceasefire,' Sanjay Singh said. He alleged that despite this, there was no response from the Prime Minister's office. 'Despite the multiple public statements and tweets by the U.S. President regarding the ceasefire, there was no rebuttal or clarification issued by your office. This silence has raised doubts and weakened the confidence of citizens in the government's resolve to protect India's sovereignty,' Singh said. 'Why has the Government not yet traced and identified the perpetrators of the Pahalgam incident, and what are the reasons for the delay?' he further asked. Further, Sanjay Singh said that this sequence of events has left 144 crore Indians with unanswered questions about the decision-making process behind the ceasefire and the Government's foreign policy posture. 'The lack of transparency and leadership at such a critical juncture has harmed the perception of our sovereignty. Given the above, I demand that a Special Session of Parliament be convened immediately to provide a comprehensive briefing on Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire decision, thereby restoring public faith in our constitutional institutions,' Sanjay Singh said. Meanwhile, sixteen political parties of the INDIA Bloc have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor and Trump's announcement on Tuesday. A group of INDIA bloc leaders met at the Constitution Club today after more than 200 MPs from the Lok Sabha signed a letter to PM Modi calling for a Special Session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- India Gazette
Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shrikant Shinde concludes four-nation tour, departs Liberia for India
Monrovia [Liberia], June 3 (ANI): After concluding their four-nation diplomatic tour, the Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde departed from Monrovia, Liberia, for India. As part of the visit, the delegation travelled to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, engaging in high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral relations and promote India's global outreach. In a notable diplomatic milestone, Shrikant Shinde became the only Indian Member of Parliament to address the national parliaments of both Liberia and Sierra Leone. A statement from his office highlighted this historic outreach, calling it a step forward in deepening India's parliamentary and diplomatic ties with West Africa. Delivering a powerful speech in Liberia's Parliament, he emphasised the need for global unity against terrorism, highlighting India's long-standing struggle with the menace. 'Terrorism is no longer a regional threat; it is a global menace. As representatives from across India's political spectrum, we are here to expose this hidden war. India urges all nations to adopt a policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism,' said Shinde. Shinde stressed that terrorism knows no borders and urged all nations to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism 'Terrorism knows no borders. The time has come for all countries to unite and support India's global campaign against terrorism,' said Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, as per the statement. The Indian delegation received a warm welcome from the Speaker of the Liberian Parliament, Richard Nagbe Koon, and Deputy Speaker Thomas P Fallah. In a meeting with Senate President Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Shinde demanded that Pakistan be reinstated on the FATF grey list due to its ongoing support for terrorist groups. 'Pakistan has long been a hub for terror organizations. Despite its earlier placement on the FATF grey list, its support for terrorism continues unchecked. India strongly urges the international community to reinstate Pakistan on the FATF grey list,' the statement quoted Shinde as saying. Liberia assured its full support for India's anti-terrorism campaign, with the Liberian Senate observing a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. On Monday, Shinde and the Indian delegation met with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Foreign Affairs Minister Sarah Beslow Nyanti. Liberia assured its full support for India's anti-terrorism campaign. Speaker Koon also underscored the importance of regional unity among West African nations in the fight against terrorism. As a mark of solidarity, the Liberian Senate, on the direction of Senate President Karnga-Lawrence, observed a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in India, as per the statement. Reaffirming the enduring friendship between India and Liberia, Shinde noted the two nations' strong bilateral ties and India's support during Liberia's times of crisis. He expressed confidence that Liberia -- currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council -- would back India's anti-terrorism initiatives. As part of an African tour initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an all-party parliamentary delegation led by Shinde arrived in Monrovia on Sunday. Shinde's visit strengthened bilateral ties between India and Liberia, with the Indian delegation receiving a warm welcome and ceremonial honors. The delegation also interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Gurudwara in Monrovia. As per the statement, Shinde expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading this significant diplomatic mission. (ANI)
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Shipwreck: State announces ₹1,000, 6 kg of rice to fishermen families
The State government will give ₹1,000 and 6 kg of rice to as many as 78,498 fishermen families and 27,020 families employed in the allied sectors in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts as an interim measure. The solatium has been announced against the backdrop of the capsize of MSC Elsa 3 off the coast of Kerala, posing a significant threat to the marine ecosystem and environment, affecting the livelihood means of fishermen families and families in the allied sectors. Several containers and cargo parcels from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel washed ashore at these districts early. The Kerala government then declared the wreckage of the ship, which sank 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on May 24, a State-specific disaster. The State has sanctioned ₹10.55 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund to meet the expense.
