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The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Marine emergency response ship from Puducherry set to reach Kochi shipwreck site soon
Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan has said a marine emergency response ship from Puducherry has set course for the capsized Liberian-flagged container ship, MSC Elsa 3, which sank 38 km southwest off the Kochi coast on May 24. Mr. Rajan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday (May 29, 2025) that the shipwreck experts on the search and recovery vessel would soon reach the location and use the latest equipment to scan the submerged vessel. Subsequently, they would devise a plan to drain the very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) stored in the ship's double hull to prevent further spillage. The experts would also attempt to salvage the containers using powered hoists, including at least 13 hazardous chemical canisters stowed away in the vessel's cargo hold. (The Customs had reported to the government that the ship's cargo manifest stated that the ship transported calcium carbide, a chemical which causes an exothermic reaction, producing highly flammable calcium hydroxide and acetylene gas when it reacts with water). Floating booms Mr. Rajan said the marine disaster management team had cordoned off the seas near the shipwreck site with floating booms to prevent oil slicks from spreading. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has mapped areas where weathered pieces of oil from a ship, known as 'tar balls or petroleum blobs', could wash up along Kerala's coastline. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) would place sandbags in the coastal localities to protect the shore. The government would also deploy floating booms to protect vulnerable estuaries and bays from VLSFO pollution. Mr. Rajan stated that it was unlikely more containers would run aground. Thus far, 54 containers have washed ashore on the beaches of Kollam (43), Thiruvananthapuram (9), and Alappuzha (2). Nevertheless, flotsam from damaged containers battered by the high seas off Kerala's coast could wash up on the southern beaches of Kerala. Mr. Rajan said minute plastic and polythene granules from the containers posed a clear and present marine environmental threat. The government has enlisted hundreds of volunteers and provided them with trash bags and sifters to remove the plastic debris, which the Minister termed an uphill task and a long-term environmental threat.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Containers from capsized Liberian ship wash ashore on Thiruvananthapuram coast in Kerala
Several containers and cargo parcels from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, MSC Elsa 3, washed ashore at Anchuthengu, Ayiroor, Varkala, Muthalapozhy, Mampalli and Idava beaches in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala early Tuesday. The local administration has deployed police personnel to ensure that nobody tampers with the containers, which may contain hazardous chemicals or inflammable material. The Customs department had notified the government that the vessel stacked 643 transhipment containers on the main deck. The cargo hold contained 13 containers transporting calcium carbide. The hazardous chemical causes an exothermic reaction, producing highly flammable calcium hydroxide and acetylene gas when it reacts with water. The flotsam from the shipwreck also included blue-coloured parcels, possibly containing chemical dyes and other raw materials used in textile manufacturing. Member Secretary, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, KSDMA, Shekhar Kuriakose, had warned people to maintain a minimum distance of 200 m from the shipwreck detritus. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has informed the government that more containers will likely run ashore along Kerala's coastline. The government stated that more containers were bobbing dangerously in the sea, buffeted by high waves and strong winds. The wreckage posed a dire threat to passing ships and smaller vessels, including trawlers and fishing boats. Hence, the government has banned fishing activities within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the shipwreck location. The ICG and maritime authorities have issued notices to mariners, advising them to exercise caution when navigating the floating debris field. The shipping company has contracted a private firm to assist authorities in corralling the floating containers and salvaging those stowed away in the submerged vessel's cargo hold. The container ship, which had set course for Kochi from Vizhinjam, foundered after encountering heavy weather 38 km southwest of its port of call early Sunday. A perilous combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure and perhaps unbalanced cargo reportedly caused the ship to list heavily before capsizing and sinking. The Coast Guard rescued the ship's crew, comprising up to 21 individuals from various nationalities, including Russia and the Philippines.
