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India Today
6 days ago
- General
- India Today
Coast Guard deploys specialised ships to contain oil spill off Kerala coast
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has ramped up its response to an emerging environmental threat off the Kerala coast following the sinking of a Liberian container vessel, MSC ELSA 3, near Alappuzha. As of 4 pm on May 27, the oil leaking from the stricken ship had not reached the shoreline, with authorities crediting a coordinated containment effort for slowing the prevent ecological damage to the environmentally sensitive coastline, the Coast Guard has deployed three Offshore Patrol Vessels and a specialised Pollution Control Vessel, ICGS Samudra Prahari. Surveillance and response operations are being intensified through daily aerial sorties by ICG Dornier aircraft operating from the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Kochi.A defence PRO, in a post on the social media platform X, said that efforts were currently underway by the ICG, with the assistance of multiple coast guard assets, to deal with the oil spill caused by the shipwreck. "The situation regarding the oil spill is currently managed and under close observation by @IndiaCoastGuard. As of 1330 hr today, no oil has made its way to the shores of #Kerala state," the post on X after the vessel sank, the Coast Guard issued advisories to the Kerala government, initiating coordinated preparedness and response measures to tackle potential oil or hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) to the Defence Ministry, the vessel went down with 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. It was also loaded with 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace a related development, 46 containers have washed ashore across three coastal districts of Kerala as of 5.38 pm today. The containers' drift pattern is consistent with prevailing weather conditions, and more debris is expected to beach in the coming State Disaster Management Authority has issued multiple advisories to local responders and residents, outlining protocols for handling any cargo or debris that may reach the shore. Surveillance operations are also ongoing to locate floating containers and alert coastal authorities ahead of their coordination meetings between the Coast Guard and state agencies are being held to ensure a swift and unified response to the evolving situation.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Coordinated Response Measures to Oil/Hns Pollution Subsequent to Sinking of Mv Msc Elsa 3
New Delhi, 27 May 25: The coordinated efforts to protect our environmentally sensitive coastline have tremendously reduced the spread rate of oil leaking from the stricken vessel. As of 1600 hrs on 27 May 25, oil is yet to reach the shores. Consequent to sinking of container vessel, MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Allapuzha, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had issued advisory to the State administration for preparatory activities and coordination between stakeholders was established to mitigate any possible oil spill/HNS pollution scenarios. As part of the response measures, ICG has deployed three Offshore Patrol Vessels and one specialised Pollution Control Vessel, ICG Ship Samudra Prahari. Multiple aerial sorties for assessment and response to the limited spill observed are being flown by ICG Dornier aircrafts daily from ICG Air Enclave at Kochi. State Disaster Management Authority, Kerala, has issued multiple advisories giving quintessential instructions for the responders/local populace for handling of debris/cargo washing ashore. As of 1738 hrs today, 46 Containers have washed ashore across three coastal districts of Kerala. The drift pattern is in line with the ongoing weather conditions and other debris is expected to beach subsequently. ICG surveillance efforts are also underway to locate these containers at sea and forewarn the local administration of their impending arrival. Regular coordination meetings are being held to ensure coordinated and swift response to emerging situation.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Oil spill scare off Kerala: Day after cargo ship capsized, 30 containers wash up ashore
A day after the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, capsized off the Kerala coast, 30 containers washed ashore on Monday. However, no oil spill has reached the shore as of Monday evening. A defence spokesperson in Kochi said three Coast Guard vessels, Vikram, Saksham and Samarth, have been deployed in a pollution response configuration in the area where the ship capsized. These vessels utilised infrared cameras to detect the oil spill area and utilised oil spill dispersant to contain the spread of oil, officials said. Besides, a Dornier aircraft equipped with specialised gear has been positioned in Kochi to undertake aerial assessments of the oil spill situation. A dedicated pollution control vessel, Samudra Prahari, is being mobilised from Mumbai to further augment oil spill response efforts. In the coastal regions of Kerala's Alappuzha and Kollam districts, 30 of the containers that detached from the capsized ship washed ashore on Monday. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority member secretary Sekhar Kuriakose said, 'These containers did not contain anything harmful. More containers may wash ashore in the coming days. We have warned the people not to go near the containers. Customs, as well as the representatives of the shipping firm, will be handling the containers.' The Coast Guard had earlier said that the ship, which had 640 containers, was carrying 13 containers with 'hazardous cargo' and 12 with calcium carbide. It also said the ship had '84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks'. Kuriakose said the state government has asked the Factories and Boilers Department to make ready two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) each in southern and central Kerala districts, and one each in the northern districts. Besides, in the event of oil slick reaching the shore, the State Pollution Control Board was directed to make ready two RRTs each in the southern and central coastal districts and one each in the northern districts. Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) will soon launch a field study on the fallout of the emerging scenario on marine ecosystems. CMFRI director Dr Grinson George said the institute is closely monitoring the situation following reports of a possible oil spill in the Arabian Sea. The ecological and economic impact will depend on the scale of the leakage. Oil smothering could threaten sensitive marine species and disrupt fishing activities, particularly affecting artisanal fishers in coastal regions. If the spill spreads, it may harm marine productivity, especially during the monsoon — a critical period for pelagic fish breeding and growth, he said, adding that this could have long-term consequences for fisheries. The monsoon season typically supports high marine productivity, and a strong fishing season was anticipated. The scale of the impact is dependent on the amount of leakage and how it can be contained, he said.
Kuwait Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
India races to contain oil spill after ship sinks
A Liberian-flagged container ship is seen after it sunk off India's southern coast of Kerala. — AFP BENGALURU: India's coastguard raced on Monday to contain an oil spill from a container ship with hazardous cargo that sank off the southern coast a day earlier, Kerala's state government said. The Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3, listed as a 184-metre (603-foot) freight ship, went down off the coast of Kerala on Sunday, with all 24 crew members rescued. It was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide, a chemical used for fertilizer production and steelmaking. The vessel also contained some 370 tons of fuel and oil. "The Coast Guard is taking action to prevent the spread of oil using two ships," Kerala's government said in a statement. "The work of spraying dust to destroy the oil is in progress using a Dornier aircraft". India's defense ministry said the ship sank "due to flooding" some 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, raising concerns for the "sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast". The government has put coastal areas on high alert and warned people not to touch or approach any containers — some of which have already washed up along the coast. The ship was sailing between the Indian ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi when it ran into trouble on Saturday and issued a distress call. — AFP
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
India tries to contain oil spill after cargo ship sinks off Kerala coast
Listen to article India's coastguard raced on Monday to contain an oil spill from a container ship with hazardous cargo that sank off the southern coast a day earlier, Kerala's state government said. The Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3, listed as a 184-metre [603-foot] freight ship, went down off the coast of Kerala on Sunday, with all 24 crew members rescued. It was carrying 640 containers — including 13 with hazardous cargo, 12 containing calcium carbide, a chemical used for fertiliser production and steelmaking. The vessel also contained some 370 tonnes of fuel and oil. "The Coast Guard is taking action to prevent the spread of oil using two ships," Kerala's government said in a statement. "The work of spraying dust to destroy the oil is in progress using a Dornier aircraft". India's defence ministry said the ship sank "due to flooding" some 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, raising concerns for the "sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast". The government has put coastal areas on high alert and warned people not to touch or approach any containers — some of which have already washed up along the coast. The ship was sailing between the Indian ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi when it ran into trouble on Saturday and issued a distress call.
