Mapping of Kochi oil spill begins, Kerala coastline on alert as containers from capsized ship wash ashore

The Print

26-05-2025

The MSC ELSA 3, en route to Kochi, capsized 24 May and completely sank by 25 May morning, 14.6 nautical miles from the Thottappally spillway in Alappuzha.
Additionally, authorities have issued a statewide alert urging extreme caution among coastal communities, particularly concerning the districts of Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram, where containers are most likely to wash ashore.
Thiruvananthapuram: Central and state agencies have launched a coordinated effort after a Liberia-flagged container vessel carrying hazardous cargo on board sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday.
It was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 containing calcium carbide—a chemical that can ignite on contact with water. Additionally, the vessel held 84.44 metric tonnes (MT) of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes (MT) of furnace oil.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level emergency meeting on Monday to evaluate the situation. As per the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the incident was classified as a Tier 2 disaster, and the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is overseeing efforts under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).
As of Monday morning, nine containers had reached the coast—four near Shaktikulangara Harbour, three in Chavara, one in Cheriyazheekkal in Kollam district, and one in Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha district, the CMO informed media after the meeting.
Defence PRO Atul Pillai in Kochi told ThePrint that Coast Guard vessels Vikram, Saksham, and Samarth have been deployed to the site. These vessels, using infrared cameras, will detect oil spills and apply oil spill dispersants (OSDs) to contain the spread, he said.
Besides this, a Dornier aircraft stationed in Kochi is conducting aerial surveillance, and the dedicated pollution control vessel Samudra Prahari is being mobilized from Mumbai to bolster cleanup efforts.
'The containers washing ashore are currently being handled by the NDRF and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority,' Pillai told ThePrint. 'We are providing guidance from the Coast Guard, but due to the ongoing monsoon, it is difficult to predict how many more containers will reach the shore.'
He added that rescuing the crew was the ICG's primary objective.
'Twenty-one crew members were rescued Saturday, while three remained on board until Sunday morning under the company's direction to mitigate the incident. When the vessel tilted further, they were forced to abandon ship, and the Navy carried out the rescue amidst highly dangerous conditions,' he said.
In parallel, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has begun mapping the spread of the oil spill. The Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has also collected water samples from Alappuzha.
Dr. Prema, Principal Scientist at CMFRI, said the organisation would continue sampling along the coast starting Monday. 'Calcium carbide, if exposed to water, can have toxic effects. We are still determining if any has leaked, but caution is essential,' she noted.
Also Read: Why Tamil Nadu's shores have become a death trap for Olive Ridley turtles
Public advisory issued
In view of the incident, the government has issued several precautionary directives to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Citizens were advised not to touch, approach, or gather near any containers or unusual objects that wash ashore. 'A safe distance of at least 200 meters must be maintained, and any such findings should be immediately reported by calling 112,' an advisory from the CMO reads.
Furthermore, fishing is prohibited within 20 nautical miles of the sunken vessel. Fishermen must also avoid contact with any debris or containers and report sightings to the authorities.
To handle containers reaching the shore, the Kerala government will deploy Rapid Response Teams equipped with JCBs and cranes under the direction of the factories and boilers Department. Two teams each will be active in the southern districts from Thrissur onwards, and one team each will cover the northern districts.
For managing potential oil contamination onshore, the Pollution Control Board will deploy similar teams across the region, it said, adding that District Disaster Management Authorities, police, and other government departments will support these operations.
A comprehensive plan involving the Coast Guard, Navy, forest department, and factories and boilers department is being prepared to address the risk of oil settling on the seabed, it added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: 'Save Ennore creek' — Chennai oil spill turns focus to a 'lifeline in ICU'