Latest news with #MSCELSA3
Indian Express
41 minutes ago
- General
- Indian Express
Failure in ship's ballast water management system could have caused mishap off Kerala coast
Preliminary investigation shows the ship mishap off the Kerala coast could be due mechanical failure in the ship's ballast water management system, officials at the Directorate General of Shipping — India's nodal maritime authority – have said. Speaking to the media in Kochi three days after Liberian container ship ELSA 3 capsize sparked fears of an oil spill, Ajith Sukumaran, chief surveyor at the Directorate General of Shipping, said the mishap was still under investigation and is being 'deeply looked into from all angles'. 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, which went down with more than 600 containers, was carrying 367.1 tonnes of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) and 84.44 tonnes of marine diesel fuel. 'But our preliminary inference is that it is connected with some kind of mechanical failure in the ship's ballast water management system, which should have ensured the stability of the vessel. It could be a failure or lack of understanding,' he said. The ballast water management system might not have worked properly, he said. 'That is why the ship listed (tilted) 26 degrees, which resulted in complete loss of power in the vessel, leading to incapacitation of the entire operation of the ship. Only a probe will reveal whether it could have been avoided or not,' he said. There is no evidence of any other incident — including any breach of hull – he said. On seaworthiness of the ship, the principal surveyor said there was no ceiling on how long a ship can be used. 'It depends upon the commercial decision of the ship owner. Otherwise, if a ship is certified as fit for operation by competent agencies, it is permitted to be operated on the Indian coast. The vessel, as per our investigation, has fully complied with international requirements,' he said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Ship capsize: Panel set up to guide clean-up operations
Thiruvananthapuram : Following the chemical spill and plastic pellet wash-up caused by the maritime mishap involving cargo ship MSC ELSA 3, state govt convened a high-level expert panel with international participation and deployed trained volunteers to lead coastal clean-up efforts. Acting on chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's directives, a multidisciplinary expert consultation, involving internationally renowned marine and environmental specialists, was held. Among those present were Murali Thummarukudy, an authority in disaster management and environmental response, Olof Linden, former professor at World Maritime University, petroleum chemical analysis expert Babu Pillai, environmental economist Shanthakumar and coastal clean-up expert Mike Coving. Senior state officials, including chief secretary, principal secretaries of disaster management and environment, chairman of Kerala state pollution control board and district collectors from affected areas, participated. Govt had been closely monitoring the situation since the vessel capsized. After initial emergency actions, the expert meeting marked a strategic shift toward long-term damage mitigation and community protection. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nuevo Audi A6 Sportback e-tron AUDI Ver oferta Undo As a key public safety measure, fishing activity has been banned in a 20-nautical-mile radius from the site of the sunken ship. Local self-govts and coastal fishing communities were issued specific advisories on what to do if they encountered debris such as damaged containers or unidentified materials onshore. Simultaneously, pollution control board mobilised rapid response teams to deal with possible oil spills. Equipment, including oil booms, was pre-positioned at river mouths and estuaries to contain any contamination. With the presence of plastic pellets—also known as nurdles—posing significant ecological risks, state deployed volunteer squads to systematically clear beaches. Guided by drone surveys, volunteers were stationed every 100m along the affected coastlines. Their efforts were closely coordinated by police, fire and rescue services and pollution control board. Strict instructions were issued to supervisors to ensure that volunteers followed all safety guidelines and avoided hazardous contact. "This is not just a clean-up drive. It is a coordinated, scientifically informed emergency response prioritising public safety, environmental protection and the welfare of the fisheries sector," said a senior official. State's current response is aimed at averting long-term ecological fallout, protecting livelihoods and establishing a blueprint for managing such complex maritime disasters in future.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Technical failure in ballast water management could have led to sinking of ship, say officials
Preliminary findings of the probe into the sinking of container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast with 640 containers on board point to technical failure in ballast water management, which in turn caused the ship to tilt over 20 degrees and sink, officials of the Shipping Ministry and the Mercantile Marine department (MMD) said here on Wednesday. The officials included Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan; Nautical Advisor to the Government of India Capt. Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Surveyor of the Directorate General of Shipping Ajith Sukumaran, and Principal Officer of the MMD's Kochi office J. Senthil Kumar. Mr. Jagannathan said none of the 50 containers that were washed ashore along the 120-km coastline of Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram during the past few days had any hazardous cargo like calcium carbide. Most containers were empty, while the others had cotton bales and plastic pellets. The containers will be recovered in two days and disposed of. 'No sabotage' The prime focus now is on recovering oil and other pollutants from the vessel, followed by containers which are said to have cargo like ethylene polymers. The ship's owner firm MSC has roped in global firms with expertise in retrieving such cargo, while the Indian Coast Guard's specialised oil spill response team has been deployed to prevent damage to marine resources. There are internationally binding norms to settle insurance claims and compensate fishers from the Kerala coast for their loss of livelihood, he said and added that prima facie there was no reason to suspect sabotage. Terming the sinking incident as the largest along the Indian coast, Mr. Sukumaran said that preliminary inference pointed to mechanical failure in ballast water management, a safety precaution that is taken in all ships to overcome the effect of 'rolling and pitching' while on the sea, and the subsequent loss of power. This could have been caused by the malfunctioning of the ballast management valves. Old ships On several shipping firms deploying old vessels to Indian ports (the sunk ship was 28 years old), he said many stakeholders had expressed concern about the matter. Steps were under way to revise safety and other norms in this regard. The officials said that although the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had not issued any age-related norms for ships, there were concerns about the operational efficiency of older vessels. Mr. Azad explained how a team of salvage specialists, naval architects, chemists, oil spill specialists, and divers was deployed to salvage the vessel and the containers, and to contain the effects of oil spillage and pollution. A total of four tugs have been mobilised as part of this. On the delay in officially declaring the contents of 13 containers having 'hazardous' cargo, he said the owner of the ship had said that they contained 'rubber chemicals' which were non-hazardous. While five of them were on the ship's deck, eight were secured within the vessel's 'cargo hold' area. According to the plan, oil spill in the vicinity of the sinking spot can be cleared by July 3. The ship was carrying 367 tonnes of very low sulfur fuel oil and 84 tonnes of marine diesel fuel.
Time of India
9 hours 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.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Plastic nurdle spill from Kerala shipwreck reaches Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI: The potential environmental fallout from the recent sinking of the container ship MSC ELSA 3 off the Kochi coast in Kerala has escalated, as plastic nurdles—tiny plastic pellets used in manufacturing—have begun washing ashore even in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district on Wednesday. The Liberia-flagged vessel sank on May 25, approximately 38 nautical miles off the coast between Vizhinjam and Kochi. Carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and substantial quantities of diesel and furnace oil, the ship's sinking has led to the dispersion of its cargo in the ocean. Among the debris, the nurdles, which have been found on beaches in Thiruvananthapuram, have drifted southward into the west coast of Tamil Nadu due to prevailing ocean currents. This has raised fears that they may drift towards the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar on the east coast. It hosts extensive coral reefs, vital seagrass meadows, and endangered species like dugongs and sea turtles. Kanniyakumari district authorities told TNIE that 25-kg bags full of plastic nurdles in large quantities started washing ashore on Wednesday afternoon. Sources said there was a meeting of a fact-finding committee, which was constituted by the Union Environment Ministry, held in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. "So far, we don't know the quantity of the spill," a senior official in the environment ministry said. Nurdles, though not inherently toxic, pose significant threats to marine life and coastal ecosystems. Their small size and resemblance to fish eggs make them easily ingestible by marine organisms. Once consumed, they can cause internal blockages, malnutrition, and even death. Moreover, nurdles act as sponges for toxic chemicals, which can accumulate in the bodies of marine animals and potentially enter the human food chain.
