Containers from sunken ship likely to drift towards Alappuzha, Kollam coasts in 48 hours: INCOIS

The Hindu

25-05-2025

There is a high probability (of 45%) that many of the 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide, from the Liberian-flagged container ship, MSC ELSA 3, that sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday morning drifting towards the entire coastal stretch of Alappuzha district and parts of Kollam in the next 48 hours, say simulation results from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
They include Alappad, Purakkad and Chappakkadavu in Alappuzha, apart from Vellanathuruthu, Kovilthottam and Maruthadi along the Kollam coast which have a 25% chance of being affected. These regions should be monitored closely during the 48 hours to mitigate potential risks, says a communication issued by INCOIS.
The agency has activated its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) to assist in locating containers or drifting objects.
Oil spill
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) sources said oil spill was reported around the vessel and its extent was being assessed.
The INCOIS communication goes on to say that oil-spill trajectory advisory simulations were run to forecast the potential spread and movement of any oil discharge. Based on hypothetical simulations, any spilled oil pollutant can reach the coastal stretch of Alappuzha, Ambalappuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagapally within 36 to 48 hours of 'release'. These coastal zones are at risk of contamination and should be given prompt attention to minimise potential environmental impact, the ocean information services agency has said.
INCOIS continues to closely monitor the situation and remains in coordination with the authorities concerned, providing vital ocean-forecast information and advisory services to support ongoing search, rescue, and environmental-response operations, it says.
The agency provides vital ocean condition forecasts and advisory services to safeguard the lives and livelihood of maritime communities, especially during extreme weather events such as cyclones, high waves, and swell surges. These forecasts are generated using an advanced multi-model operational ocean forecasting system, which integrates real-time observational data from coastal and deep ocean buoys, including those deployed in the southern Indian Ocean.
84.44 MT of diesel
The sunken ship was also carrying 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil, as per a communication issued by the Ministry of Defence. Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along the Kerala coast, the ICG has activated full pollution response preparedness. ICG aircraft equipped with advanced oil-spill detection systems are conducting aerial surveillance, and ICG ship Saksham, carrying pollution-response equipment, remains deployed at the site, it says.
Clarity on contents
Oil spill was reported around the vessel by evening and its extent is being assessed. In addition, the ship's owner firm MSC is expected to clarify on the contents of the hazardous cargo in the 13 containers, ICG sources says.