Latest news with #M.V.WanHai503
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Ship on fire casts a pall of gloom over Kerala coast
The silence of the night outside the Emergency Medicine department of A.J. Hospital and Research Centre in Karnataka's coastal city of Mangaluru on June 9 was shattered by the siren-blaring ambulances that came rushing in. Caregivers at the hospital, along with a couple of Navy staff, rushed near the vehicles to pull out patients, some of them in critical condition. The six patients were among the 18 crew members who were rescued from M.V. Wan Hai 503, a 27-metre-long Singapore-flagged cargo ship that caught fire nearly 44 nautical miles off the Azhikkal coast in Kannur, Kerala, that morning. The ship had 22 crew members and four of them, two from Taiwan, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar, were reported missing. A joint team of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy engaged in mid-sea rescue operations. The vessel had departed from Colombo in Sri Lanka on June 7 and was supposed to reach Mumbai on June 10. An explosion in one of the containers is reported to have led to the fire, which triggered an unprecedented crisis mid-sea, as plumes of smoke soon swirled up in the air. The disaster set off alarm bells in Kerala, as the incident came just weeks after MSC Elsa 3, the Liberia-flagged container ship, sank off the Kochi coast on May 25. While the authorities were grappling with the impact of this incident on the marine and coastal environment, another tragedy has brought forth more serious questions about maritime safety and the potential risks such accidents pose to humans as well as the marine ecosystem. The cargo manifest of M.V. Wan Hai 503 shows the ship had 1,754 containers onboard, of which 143 contained hazardous substances. The contents included substances classified by the International Maritime Organisation as dangerous goods under its Class 3 (flammable liquids), Class 4.1 (flammable solids), Class 4.2 (substances liable to spontaneous combustion), Class 4.3 (substances that, when in contact with water, emit flammable gases), Class 6.1 (toxic substances), Class 8 (corrosive substances), and Class 9 (Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances and Articles) cargoes. The falling of some of the containers into the sea after the explosion and the listing of the vessel have raised health concerns. C. Anulekshmi, senior scientist and head, Kozhikode regional station, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), says the short-term impact of chemicals or debris spilling over into the sea includes immediate harm to marine life, causing death of organisms, and reduced water quality. 'These effects can range from direct toxicity to organisms, habitat destruction, and disruption of ecosystems. There could be mixing of water in these areas by tides, water current, and wind. There are chances of dilution of the chemicals in water. The immediate effect will be on the surrounding organisms of the ship,' she says. The chemicals can directly poison sedentary and benthic marine organisms as they can accumulate the hazardous materials in their body. The organisms in the neritic zone, a shallow, sun-lit region of the ocean above the continental shelf, can move away from the location to a safer place. All of these depend on the quantity of chemicals spilt, she says. 'If the hazardous chemicals are spilt into the sea, they may immediately affect planktons in the surrounding places, which may further impact all organisms in that area. These basic parts of the food chain will not be available to marine organisms and will affect the food chain. If there is any possibility of an oil spill and discharge of other pollutants, it can devastate habitats around the area by preventing the mixing of oxygen in the waters. However, the ocean is very vast, dynamic, and resilient,' Anulekshmi says. Rajeev S. Menon, Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Calicut, says that most of the dangerous goods on the ship are widely used industrial feedstock chemicals for the production of common polymers, resins, pesticides, and other advanced fine chemicals. The cargo manifest shows the presence of nitrocellulose with alcohol. 'Mixing and dispersion of nitrocellulose in seawater will prevent explosions, and this is probably the most desirable outcome to hope for, as it is a non-toxic substance. Chemicals such as chloroaniline, 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, naphthalene, benzophenone, and maleic anhydride are hazardous chemicals that are insoluble and will persist in the marine environment for a longer duration,' he says. Hydrobromic acid and phosphoric acids, which are highly corrosive acids, are soluble in water and will dissipate in seawater rather quickly. On mixing, they will cause a localised, short-lived dip in the pH (measuring its acidity or alkalinity) of the seawater, which could be detrimental to aquatic life. He says that a direct reading of the enlisted hazards of these chemicals may be slightly misleading as their mixing with a large volume of seawater will significantly reduce and dissipate some of the dangers. Meanwhile, faced with recurrence of such incidents and the ensuing threat of large-scale pollution, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and agencies such as the Mercantile Marine department (MMD) are in the process of readying an action plan to enhance India's maritime framework and prevent/lessen the impact of such incidents, according to highly-placed sources. The sources say that the two back-to-back incidents off the Kerala coast have laid bare critical vulnerabilities in India's maritime regulatory architecture. Complex ownership issues, threat from hazardous cargo, and delayed emergency response in the wake of the sinking have been a wake-up call for stakeholders. 'The proposed action plan draws on the key lessons from the recent incidents to outline a comprehensive set of steps, including those aimed at strengthening maritime safety, environmental protection, and institutional readiness,' MMD officials say. They include upgrading of the port infrastructure and responsibilities and ensuring availability of towing infrastructure, and improving efficiency in distress response. To cater to the increasing number of ships, India must expand its sanctioned strength of Port State Control Officers, which is now encountering a 40% vacancy rate. There is also a need to equip them with advanced digital inspection tools, say MMD sources. Trade union leaders in the fisheries sector are worried about the impact of the accidents on the livelihood options of the fishers. The recurring accidents, they fear, could hit the fishers hard. Representatives of trade unions in the fisheries sector say there is a need to improve inspections at ports, including at the newly inaugurated one at Vizhinjam. Charles George, president, Kerala Matsyathozhilali Aikya Vedi, notes that the sinking of the Liberia-flagged MSC Elsa 3 could have been prevented if a thorough fitness inspection had been done at Vizhinjam to ensure ballast-water management. 'There has been a delay of over a fortnight in registering a case against the vessel's owner firm. Why are such vessels that are over 25 years old being permitted to operate to ports in India with hazardous cargo,' he wonders. Officials in the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, however, say that older vessels need not always be unfit for use, especially if they have been given a safety certificate by classification societies. 'Efforts are on to usher in reforms in the sector. While June 13 has been set as the deadline to complete the oil-recovery process from the vessel that sank off the Alappuzha coast, July 4 is the target to demobilise the ongoing multi-agency response and salvage efforts that are being led by the Directorate General of Shipping,' they say. News about the possible contamination in marine organisms, including fish, following the accident has forced a few people in Kerala to abandon their staple diet and choose meat. The shift in dietary practice has hit fish vendors like Sreedevi Lateesh, who used to commute daily with fish from her home in Vaikom to Kochi by bus. 'Despite financial difficulties, I had to take a break from selling fish for over a week due to a fall in demand for fish from households,' she says, adding that demand for fish is yet to pick up. Meanwhile, CMFRI officials are collecting water and sediment samples from the coastal areas of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram and are continuously monitoring the fishery around there. A senior official says only small fishing vessels are operating in these areas due to the ongoing monsoon trawl ban. 'So far, there are no reports of dead fish on the coast or in the fishing locations. At present, the fish available in the markets are coming mainly from the coastal areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. There may not be any serious concern about consuming fish now,' the official adds. Five Coast Guard ships, two Dornier aircraft, and one helicopter are engaged in the rescue mission. The primary focus is to restrict the movement of the ship, which is adrift. The vessel will be towed to a safer location to avert a potential ecological disaster, according to the central agencies involved in the mission. The recurring marine accidents have called for a comprehensive study on ship accidents and the safety and precautionary measures to be adopted, as Kerala's sea routes are getting busy following the commissioning of the Vizhinjam international port. (with inputs from John L. Paul in Kochi)
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — June 12, 2025
Report on population The report by the United Nations Population Fund estimating India's population to have hit the 146.39 crore mark is alarming (Page 1, June 11). We face a ticking time bomb. At a time when poverty, inequality and unemployment levels have gone up, there is a dire need to arrest population growth on a war footing. Prabhu Raj R., Bengaluru While concerns over overpopulation have long dominated policy discussions, we are now entering an era where population stabilisation and eventual decline must be viewed through a different lens. The projected peak of 170 crore in the next four decades indicates a crucial window for India to reap the demographic dividend. However, with declining fertility comes a future risk of an aging population, a shrinking workforce, and growing health-care burdens. Let this demographic shift be a catalyst for smarter and more inclusive policy-making. Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru Some States still have high fertility rates while others are well below replacement, creating uneven demographic shifts. The key is balanced population management, ensuring economic, social and environmental sustainability and good health for all. Dr. O. Prasada Rao, Hyderabad A serious population survey should tell us whether India's population has attained a state of constancy or decline. Political partisanship should not deter us from undertaking this survey. This true picture should enable the recalibration of allocations and essential services. M.V. Sridhara, Mysuru Cargo ship fire The blaze on the M.V. Wan Hai 503 off the Kerala coast is more than a mid-sea mishap. It is a searing indictment of maritime risk management. The accident also exposes gaps in pre-emptive tracking, hazardous cargo disclosure and real-time monitoring. India needs a robust marine emergency protocol and international collaboration for hazardous cargo ships transiting in our waters. Let this not drift into a routine and post-crisis clean-up operation. Prevention must sail ahead of reaction. Gopalaswamy J., Chennai Crime and media content The report, on a murder in Meghalaya, is disturbing. In this connection, questions need to be raised about content being aired on some television channels, on crimes. In the name of presenting 'dramatised versions of crime cases, with a view to opening the minds of viewers', more harm may be being caused. Sarah Abraham, Ponda, Goa
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Morning Digest: Multi-party delegations put forward India's voice, says Modi; Arambai Tenggol lifts shutdown in Manipur, seeks its leader's release, and more
Members of multi-party delegations put forward India's voice, says Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted members of the multiparty delegations, part of India's diplomatic outreach in various capitals across the world following Operation Sindoor, at his official residence on Tuesday (June 10, 2025), telling them that the delegation by their very make up and strong advocacy reinforced India's message of unity in fighting terror. Arambai Tenggol lifts shutdown in Manipur, seeks its leader's release The Arambai Tenggol (AT), an armed Meitei radical group in Manipur, has withdrawn the 10-day shutdown it had called to protest the June 7 arrest of its senior leader Asem Kanan Singh. BBC report claims at least 82 killed in Maha Kumbh stampedes At least 82 people were killed in four incidents of stampede at Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on January 29, against the State government's official claim of 37 deaths, a report by BBC News Hindi claimed. The report said the families of at least 26 victims were given bundles of ₹5 lakh each by Uttar Pradesh government officials but their names were not counted among those who died in the stampede. Honeymoon murder: victim's wife and others accused to be produced in Shillong court on June 11 Pained by the portrayal of their town and Meghalaya as crime-prone and an unsafe place for tourists, the people of Sohra (Cherrapunji), on Tuesday (June 10, 2025), paid floral tributes to and held a candlelight vigil for Raja Raghuvanshi, the businessman from Indore murdered during a honeymoon trip on May 23. 'All the accused persons, including Sonam Raghuvanshi, will be produced before a court on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). They will also be taken to Sohra to reconstruct the crime,' said Vivek Syiem, the Superintendent of Police of the East Khasi Hills district. Burning cargo vessel along Kerala coast has flammable solids, liquids M.V. Wan Hai 503, the Singapore-flagged vessel that caught fire nearly 88 nautical miles off the Beypore coast in Kozhikode on June 9 is carrying flammable solids and liquids, its cargo manifest shows. Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka High Court posts next hearing on June 12, Advocate General to file reply in sealed cover The High Court of Karnataka posted to June 12 the next hearing on a petition initiated by it on the June 4 stampede at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives. The court ordered Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty to file a reply in a sealed cover. During the hearing, the A-G submitted that he has not yet filed his reply. He said a judicial commission has been constituted, giving a one-month timeline for a report. He also noted that police officers have been suspended. Terrorism should be treated as global issue, not bilateral problem, says Jaishankar Terrorism should be addressed as a global issue rather than a bilateral problem, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, as he highlighted the historical connection of many of the terror-related incidents globally to Pakistan. Addressing the Indian community members in Belgium, Mr. Jaishankar apprised them of India's counter-terrorism efforts. U.K., and four other allies sanction Israeli Ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich The U.K, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, has sanctioned two Israeli Government Ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday, 'for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank'. While the move was focused on the West Bank, a joint statement from the countries said it could not be viewed in isolation from the 'catastrophe' in Gaza. Won't tolerate abuse of visas, violation of law, says U.S. Embassy The United States 'will not tolerate abuse of visas and violation of U.S. law', the U.S. Embassy said on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). The remarks came a day after a video shared online showed an Indian student being restrained by security personnel at the Newark Liberty International Airport, which prompted discussion on the strict immigration rules prevailing in the U.S. Trump says he will 'liberate' Los Angeles in speech to mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy' in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids. Seven dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings and gun attacks Colombia was rocked by a string of 24 coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least seven people across the country's southwest Tuesday (June 10, 2025), deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean nation. Attackers struck targets in Cali — the country's third-largest city — and several nearby towns, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilian targets. Axiom-4 mission: All eyes on weather conditions as agencies target June 11 launch Even as the launch of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has once again been postponed, agencies associated with launch activities are closely monitoring the weather conditions at Florida in the USA. Indian football continues to slide as team suffers defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong There was no stopping Indian football's decline as the senior men's team, lacking in spunk, finishing skill and the will to fight, suffered a calamitous 0-1 defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match here on Tuesday. Hosts Hong Kong emerged victorious after an injury-time goal by Stefan Pereira.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Threat of pollution from ships: meeting of shipping, defence agencies held
Amid the raging fire on board the Singapore-flagged ship M.V. Wan Hai 503 off the Beypore coast since Monday (June 9), the sinking of Liberia-flagged ship MSC Elsa 3 off the Alappuzha coast on May 25, and the looming threat of marine pollution from the two vessels that were carrying hazardous and inflammable cargo, a meeting was held in Kochi on Tuesday (June 10) to take stock of the emerging situation. The attendees included officials of the Directorate General of Shipping, Mercantile Marine department, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and the Kerala Maritime Board as well as representatives of the Government of Tamil Nadu, it is learnt. Officials of the Directorate General of Shipping said the priority was to douse the fire on Wan Hai 503 and to trace her missing crew members. Efforts by the Coast Guard ships to contain the fire have been affected by its spread to more areas of the vessel and the threat posed by floating containers that fell off the ship. This would be followed by efforts to curb pollution around the vessel and in places to which the pollutants spread. After taking stock of the situation, measures to salvage the cargo will be taken, in tandem with the ship's owner firm and the other agencies concerned. Officials of agencies under the Kerala government offered all help to mitigate the situation, it is learnt.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Burning cargo vessel has flammable solids, liquids
M.V. Wan Hai 503, the Singapore-flagged vessel that caught fire nearly 88 nautical miles off the Beypore coast in Kozhikode on June 9 is carrying flammable solids and liquids, its cargo manifest shows. According to the cargo manifest, there are 157 containers with hazardous substances on the ship. They are flammable liquids, included in Class 3 of hazardous materials; flammable solids, which are part of Class 4.1; spontaneously combustible solids, which are part of Class 4.2; and substances either in liquid or solid form that can damage human health, which are part of Class 6.1. The classification of hazardous materials is done by the International Maritime Organisation. The containers contain flammable resin solution, environmentally hazardous benzophenone, nitro cellulose with alcohol, flammable printing ink, among others. It also has 2,000 tonnes of marine oil and 240 tonnes of diesel, the list shows. The presence of approximately 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel in tanks located adjacent to the fire zone on the ship increases the risk of operation. According to a situation report prepared by government agencies, the vessel remains adrift and unmanned for the second consecutive day, while it continues to emit smoke and flames from Bays 2 and 3 (port and starboard). Fuel oil tanks located near the fire zone are a major concern for the agencies involved in the firefighting exercise as it has the potential for further fire escalation. Preliminary visuals and vessel plans indicate that the affected bays are situated adjacent to the side fuel oil tanks. It has also been confirmed that three fuel oil tanks are located near the present fire zone. The vessel is drifting approximately at 1.0 nautical mile in a southerly direction posing imminent threat of explosion . According to the report, the vessel remains afloat while the fire is actively burning in the forward cargo holds (Bays 2 and 3) and fire has spread aft, towards the accommodation area since morning. There has been no reports of water ingress or structural instability at this stage. Due to the presence of hazardous cargo, firefighting operations are being done cautiously pending hazard verification and expert advice on appropriate extinguishing methods. The immediate concern remains containing the drift of the vessel away from the Indian coast and considering the magnitude of fire, connecting a towline will remain extremely challenging and alternative options are being considered with the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. Similarly, approximately 10–15 containers have been sighted adrift in a southeasterly direction by a Coast Guard aircraft. The estimated speed of drift is 1–1.5 knots. If unmitigated, these may reach the coast around June 12. The contents of the floating containers remain unknown, and their potential for hazard is still under assessment. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has undertaken responsibility to produce a drift forecast map and share alerts with coastal district administrations. (with inputs from Thiruvananthapuram bureau)
