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First Post
6 days ago
- General
- First Post
Is it safe to eat seafood in Kerala? How the sinking of a cargo ship brought concerns to the coast
As the Liberian-flagged container ship, MSC ELSA 3, sank off the Kerala coast last week, worries over pollution caused by it continue. While officials have so far denied an oil spill, plastics from the shipwreck lining multiple shores have raised concerns about the impact on marine life and the safety of seafood in the region read more Following sinking of cargo ship off the Kerala coast, worries over potential pollution, ranging from oil to tiny plastic pellets,have raised questions about the long-term impact on marine life and the safety of seafood in the region. Image for Representation. AFP A recent capsize of a cargo ship off the Kerala coast has triggered fresh fears for the state's delicate marine ecosystem. Last week, MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged container ship travelling from Vizhinjam port to Kochi, capsized near Alappuzha. The vessel was carrying 640 containers—some of which, the Coast Guard says, included 'hazardous cargo' that has now started washing ashore. Inside the ship's tanks were also large amounts of fuel, sparking fears about a major oil spill. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While officials have denied any confirmed oil spill so far, concerns are far from over. Worries over potential pollution, ranging from oil to tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles, continue to grow, with questions being raised about the long-term impact on marine life and the safety of seafood in the region. So, how serious is the damage? What steps are authorities taking? And most importantly, can you still safely eat fish from the Kerala coast? Here's what we know so far. How difficult is it to manage an oil spill? The MSC ELSA 3 was carrying a significant amount of fuel—at least 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil, according to the Coast Guard. Though officials have ruled out a major spill, the director of Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) Dr T M Balakrishnan Nair, on Wednesday confirmed that there were traces of oil along the Alappuzha coast. 'Our six-member team has found small patches of oil slick along the coast. These are bunker oil used in ships. As the oil spill has been contained almost, we do not expect a massive oil slick. However, it would continue to appear on the southern Kerala coast in the coming days also. Everything depends upon how much oil has leaked out from the ship,' he told the Indian Express. The Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank off the coast of Kerala on Sunday. It contained at least 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil. Image courtesy: PTI Earlier, a simulation conducted by the agency suggested that if all the diesel and furnace oil from the vessel were to leak into the sea, there was a high chance it would drift towards the Kerala coast, specifically the stretch between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. Managing oil spills is no easy task. Each incident behaves differently depending on the type and volume of oil released. Cleanup operations are often expensive, labour-intensive, and can stretch on for months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the case of MSC ELSA 3, experts say it's critical to stop the oil from reaching the shoreline. '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. This could have lasting consequences for fisheries,' Grinson George, director of Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), told The Times of India. Meanwhile, authorities say their top priorities include recovering the oil, retrieving containers adrift at sea, and removing those that have washed up on beaches. July 3 has been set as the deadline for completing oil recovery efforts. Plastic shipwreck sparks worry about pollutants Even as authorities monitor for a possible oil spill, another threat has already started washing ashore—pollutants from the cargo itself. Several containers from the sunken MSC ELSA 3 have broken loose and made landfall, bringing with them plastic pellets, chemicals, and potentially hazardous materials. In recent days, beaches in Thiruvananthapuram, such as Thumba and Kochuveli, have seen large amounts of nurdles, small plastic pellets used in the production of plastic goods. These can be mistaken for food by marine life and are extremely difficult to clean up once they spread, reports _The News Minute. _ STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 🚨 Eco-Disaster Unfolding in India Millions of plastic pellets (nurdles) are washing up on Kerala's shores after the MSC ELSA3 shipwreck. 🐢 Marine life is choking. 🌍 Ecosystems are at risk. 👣 Humans aren't far behind. This is a global wake-up call.#NurdleSpill #PlasticCrisis… — Paulose Jacob Peter (@Anand02908794) May 28, 2025 INCOIS has predicted that nurdles may drift along a stretch of 84 nautical miles off the Kovalam coast by May 29. As per an update by the INCOIS on May 26, 30 tonnes of cargo have been floating in the sea, while 45 tonnes have reached the shore. Around 25 tonnes of cargo have either evaporated or dispersed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A recent yet-to-be-published study has already raised alarms about the region's vulnerability. 'Incidents like this will cause the presence of microplastics in commercially available fish to go beyond the permissible levels. Bioaccumulation of these pollutants in our body will have long-term impacts,' Dr Shaju SS, assistant professor at the Department of Chemical Oceanography at Cochin University of Science and Technology, told The News Minute. The ship was also carrying 640 containers, which also included 13 marked as 'hazardous cargo' and 12 containing calcium carbide. Kerala holds emergency expert meet after Liberian ship sinks near shore, bans fishing, deploys pollution control teams. PTI The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a public warning, urging people not to approach any containers washed up on shore, as calcium carbide can trigger dangerous exothermic reactions if it comes into contact with water and can cause explosions, Shaju told the outlet. The Coast Guard has responded by deploying clean-up vessels and conducting aerial surveillance to track the spread of pollutants. Authorities have also deployed 108 personnel onshore for container recovery and cleanup. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Thirty-eight people have been deployed in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Kollam, linked directly to DDMA (District Disaster Management Authority). District Collectors are actively coordinating response efforts. Fifty containers have been traced across seven sites. Efforts are underway to retrieve them within two days,' Capt Abul Kalam Azad, Nautical Advisor to the Union Government, said. Is it safe to eat seafood? So far, yes. Despite the concerns surrounding the sunken vessel and potential pollutants, experts say there is no need to panic, at least not yet. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the State Fisheries Department are actively monitoring the situation. Regular water sampling is underway, and authorities are closely tracking any signs of contamination. Speaking to Kerala-based outlet Mathrubhumi News, CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said there's currently no reason to avoid eating seafood as fish from the affected area are not entering the market. Fishing is currently banned in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said there's currently no reason to avoid eating seafood as fish from the affected area are not entering the market. Fishing is currently banned in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. File image/PTI The outlet also cited food safety experts who noted that unless there's confirmed leakage, the situation shouldn't raise alarm. Even in the event of some leakage, the vast volume of seawater could help dilute any harmful substances before they pose a widespread threat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As of now, agencies continue to test seawater quality and collect samples. The Fisheries Department is expected to issue official guidance once the scientific assessments are complete. With input from agencies
Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
After cargo ship mishap, small patches of oil slick reported along Alappuzha coast
Four days after Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 capsized off Kerala coast, small patches of oil slick were Wednesday traced at Alappuzha coast. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) director Dr T M Balakrishnan Nair Wednesday confirmed that there were traces of oil along the coast. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA 3, a 28-year-old vessel, was sailing from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi when it capsized around 25 km southwest of Alappuzha. The ship went down with more than 600 containers, some of which washed ashore Monday. 'Our six-member team has found small patches of oil slick along the coast. The oil that reached the Alappuzha coast in small quantities is bunker oil used in ships,' he said Wednesday. 'As the oil spill from the ship has been contained to a certain extent, we do not expect a massive oil slick. However, it would continue to appear in southern Kerala coast in the coming days also. Everything depends upon how much oil has leaked out from the ship.' Dr Balakrishnan said the oil slick could affect marine life, especially since monsoon is breeding time for many fish species. 'The impact would depend upon the quantity of the oil being oozing out from the ship. The direction of the wind and the current also decide on the impact and spread of oil slick,' he said. On Sunday, INCOIS, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, had predicted the spilled oil pollutant could reach the coastal stretch of Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagappally within 36-48 hrs of release from the capsized ship. The Indian Coast Guard had said Tuesday that efforts were underway to respond to it. This includes deploying vessels with oil spill dispersant to contain the spread of oil and mobilising a dedicated pollution control vessel, Samudra Prahari, from Mumbai.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Cargo ship sinks near Kerala coast: What can be the impact of oil spills and how are they cleaned up?
The threat of a possible oil spill looms large in Kerala as a cargo ship, which was carrying diesel and hazardous substances, sank off the state's coast on Sunday. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA 3, a 28-year-old vessel, was sailing from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi when it capsized around 25 km southwest of Alappuzha. The ship went down with more than 600 containers, some of which washed ashore on Monday. So far, no oil spill has been reported. Indian agencies, including the Coast Guard, have initiated pre-emptive action to deal with the situation. Oil spills can severely damage the marine ecosystem as they can result in the death of fish and other organisms, and destroy mangroves and coral reefs. If an oil spill takes place near the coast, it can affect the livelihood of fishermen and disrupt the local economy. Such spills are dangerous because oil is lighter than water and it keeps floating on the surface of the sea, forming a thin layer called slick. This layer spreads rapidly over the surface as it is carried by wind and ocean currents. Moreover, most of the components of the spilled oil remain suspended in water which can lead to long-term harm. That is the reason why after an oil spill, a quick clean-up with human intervention is necessary. The MSC ELSA 3 was carrying at least 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil, according to the Coast Guard. A simulation done by the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) showed that if all of this diesel and furnace oil leaked into the sea, there was a high probability that these chemicals would drift towards the coast of Kerala. The entire coastal stretch between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram districts could be affected, the simulation revealed. Grinson George, director of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), told The Indian Express that the oil spill would lead to 'short-term impacts, mostly on small scale and artisanal fishermen who work closer to the coast'. He said that oil smothering — when a coat of oil covers marine organisms — could threaten marine species and impact pelagic fish breeding in the region. Authorities are also concerned about other hazardous substances that MSC ELSA 3 was carrying. The vessel had at least 12 containers of calcium carbide — a toxic chemical that can form explosive gases when it reacts with water. These gases are a health risk for humans and marine life. Each oil spill has unique aspects as it is influenced by the nature and chemical composition of the oil that gets leaked. Usually, before planning the clean-up, experts try to observe the colour of the oil slick (under sunlight seen as black, rainbow, brown or colourless) which can indicate the possible composition and extent of the spill. During the clean-up process, pillows made of oleophilic (oil-attracting) materials are first deployed at the site of an oil spill. These materials act like a sponge and absorb oil (not water) from the surface. This helps clean up large portions of undivided oil slicks. Then, sheets made of cotton, or a material which has properties similar to cotton, are deployed to absorb the leakage. Another method for removing the oil is to use specialised motors which can pump out water. However, these motors are deployed only when an oil spill has taken place over calm waters such as a lake. As oil does not mix or dissolve in water, an entire clean-up of this emulsified liquid is not an easy task. The process is very costly and labour-intensive, and can sometimes extend to months. Also, in water bodies such as rivers and the sea, the perpetual flow of the water can pose a challenge. Experts suggest that in the case of MSC ELSA 3, if an oil leak takes place, it would be crucial to not let the oil slicks reach near the shores. Deepak Apte, a leading marine biologist, told The Indian Express, 'Monsoon has made an onset and the currents are towards the shore. With the monsoon tides and surges, access to shore areas will be difficult for clean-ups if the oil slicks reach the coast.' An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Containers from sunken ship washed ashore at Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The containers from the MSC ELSA 3, which sank off the coast of Kochi, have begun washing ashore in various parts of Thiruvananthapuram. Driven by winds and currents toward the southern coastline, the containers have been spotted along Varkala, Anchuthengu, Ayiroor, and Edava. Coastal police report that container parts and polymer packing materials have been found floating near Anchuthengu, Mampally, and Muthalapozhi. Most of the containers appear to be severely damaged. In response, authorities have initiated efforts to move containers stranded along the coastlines of Kollam and Alappuzha. However, the operation has been delayed due to the rocky beach terrain and the need for customs clearance, according to officials involved in the salvage process. Local fishermen with knowledge of the seabed have been enlisted to assist in the operation. As of now, 34 containers have been washed ashore, and plans are in place to transport them to customs-designated areas at Kollam Port by sea. The MSC Elsa 3, carrying 640 containers, sank 38 nautical miles off Kochi on Sunday morning. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has projected an 80% likelihood that the containers will continue to wash up along the coastlines of Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram over the next four days. Authorities are on high alert due to the potential for an oil spill from the sunken ship, which is also carrying 250 tons of hazardous material (calcium carbide) in 13 of its containers.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Capsized cargo containers may drift towards Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala
Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has stated in another bulletin that there is a high probability (80%) that overboard containers of the capsized Liberian flagged container ship may drift towards the coastal stretch of Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala in the next couple of days. Hence, these regions should be monitored closely to mitigate potential risks. Additionally, Oil Spill Trajectory Advisory simulations were conducted to forecast the potential spread and movement of the oil discharge, aiding in mitigation and clean-up planning. The oil spill of mainly very low sulphur fuel has been observed to drift southeastward toward the coast and make a landfall near Alappuzha (Alleppey), affecting an estimated 11.4 nautical miles of coastline. The spill movement is being continuously monitored using forecast data, said the bulletin.
