Latest news with #AjithkumarSukumaran
United News of India
3 days ago
- General
- United News of India
Oil, diesel leakage: 146 personnel deployed shoreline cleanup, retrieval of containers
Kochi, May 29 (UNI) Citing oil and diesel leakage from containers, 146 personnel have been deployed for shoreline cleanup and container retrieval operations for the ongoing response to the capsizing of Liberian flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3, off the Kerala coast on May 25, 2025. "108 personnel have been deployed for shoreline cleanup and container retrieval operations. An additional 38 personnel have been mobilized for emergency response in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Kollam," Capt. Abul Kalam Azad, Nautical Advisor to the Government of India, has said. The 184-meter-long ship built in Germany in 1997 was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous materials. Over 100 containers are reported to have been lost at sea, and several have washed ashore in Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram. These efforts are being coordinated with the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and District Collectors of the affected coastal areas. The vessel was carrying 367.1 tonnes of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 84.44 tonnes of marine diesel fuel. The environmental threat posed by the incident is being actively mitigated. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed ships and aircraft for aerial surveillance. Dispersants are being applied under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan. Capt Abul Kalam Azad outlined three top operational priorities: Oil recovery from the sunken vessel, Retrieval of drifting containers and Removal of beached containers. The oil recovery operation is currently underway, with the salvage team setting July 3, 2025, as the completion target. So far, 50 containers have been identified from seven different coastal locations. The priority is to recover all of them within the next 48 hours. Ajithkumar Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor to the Government of India, stated, 'The Ministry and DG Shipping are fully cognizant of the magnitude and complexity of the situation. All mechanisms are in place to address the issue and avert any further mishap.' Senthil Kumar, Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department, reassured the public, saying, 'While minor oil traces have been detected, there has been no major oil spill. All traces found along the coast are being cleaned up through coordinated efforts.' Within 6 hours of the incident, DG Shipping convened a coordination meeting to avert a potential environmental disaster. Prompt rescue efforts ensured the safety of all 24 crew members. To date, 8 inter-agency coordination meetings have been held, issuing clear directives to all stakeholders. An onsite team in Kochi continues to monitor and manage pollution risks. High-range drones and precision scanning equipment are in use to detect and contain oil traces. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is working closely with DG Shipping, deploying trained volunteers for cleanup activities, said Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping and Additional Secretary to the Government of India; Officials reiterated that there is no large-scale oil spill and urged coastal residents not to panic. All visible traces are being addressed swiftly and scientifically. Local administrations are in constant touch with MMD and DG Shipping, and all container recovery and cleanup measures are under strict monitoring. UNI DS BM
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mechanical failure in ballast tank led to cargo vessel capsize: DG Shipping
K ochi: A preliminary probe by the Directorate General of Shipping has found that a mechanical failure led to the sinking of the Liberian cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 off Kochi on Sunday. A detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause. Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan and chief surveyor Ajithkumar Sukumaran told reporters on Wednesday that the preliminary probe showed a technical failure in the ballast tank that led to the accident. The valves in the tank did not function properly, leading to a failure in the ship's electrical system and causing it to list, they said. The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is cooperating with the investigation, and it is unclear how long the investigation procedures will take, the officials said. The ship was operating in compliance with the regulations of the International Maritime Organization, and its insurance documentation was valid. They said the chief officer on the ship was new, and it would be investigated if his lack of experience also contributed to the accident. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Trading con IA en Chile ayuda a usuarios a obtener ganancias potenciales! Mainhubfb Más información Undo The voyage data recorder, which contains information like the ship's speed, direction, conversations among crew members, and communications with other ships, will be retrieved to obtain more details about the accident, they said. The Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), a statutory authority under DG Shipping, informed that there was no large-scale oil spill from the sunken vessel and the environmental threat it posed was being actively mitigated. Nautical advisor Capt Abul Kalam Azad and MMD Kochi principal officer Senthil Kumar, who also addressed the news conference, confirmed that the ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous material—calcium carbide and rubber chemicals, besides 367.1 tonnes of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 84.44 tonnes of marine diesel fuel. The team said the oil recovery operation would be completed by July 3. Azad said oil recovery from the sunken vessel, retrieval of drifting containers and removal of beached containers would be their priority. A multi-beam sonar survey has been initiated to locate and assess the wreckage of the ship, and experts have planned capping of venting points. As many as 50 beached containers were identified by Wednesday, and the priority is to recover all of them within the next 48 hours. None of these containers contained hazardous material, and they were placed on the ship's deck, they said. Hazardous materials are present in 13 containers; 12 of these contain calcium carbide while one contains rubber chemicals. Of the 13, eight were inside the ship. The remaining five could be either on the ship's deck or on the seabed near the ship, they said. The officials said over 100 containers were reported to have fallen into the sea. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has deployed ships and aircraft for surveillance, and dispersants were being used under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan. An onsite team in Kochi continues to monitor and manage pollution risks. High-range drones and precision scanning equipment are being used to detect and contain oil spills. A total of 108 personnel have been deployed for shoreline clean-up and container retrieval operations. In addition to these, 38 personnel have been deployed for emergency response in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Kollam. These teams will work in coordination with the district disaster management authorities and district collectors. The shipping company has been instructed to establish a damage and liability claim desk to address the losses and liabilities related to the shipwreck.
