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News18
3 days ago
- General
- News18
Is Kerala's Seafood Still Safe? What We Know After Cargo Vessel Sinks Off Coast
Last Updated: The MSC ELSA 3 was carrying 13 hazardous containers, 12 containers of calcium carbide, 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. The sinking of the Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, on May 25 has raised alarms among local residents. The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 holding hazardous cargo. While authorities have assured that no spill has been reported so far, growing concerns linger over the potential threat to marine life and the seafood supply that sustains many in the region. The state government has declared the incident a state-specific disaster after taking into account the potentially serious environmental, social and economic impact, the Hindu reported. As concerns grow, here's a quick explainer on what happened, how authorities are responding, and whether any impact has been observed on seafood in the region. What Happened To The MSC ELSA 3? The 28-year-old vessel was en route to Kochi from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram when it capsized approximately 25 km southwest of Alappuzha on May 25. All 24 crew members onboard were safely rescued. The ship is owned by Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement. The Indian Coast Guard's 'swift action" helped avoid a major oil spill from the capsized container ship, officials of the Directorate General of Shipping stated on Wednesday. What Was Onboard The MSC ELSA 3? Apart from 13 hazardous containers, the ship was carrying 12 containers of calcium carbide, 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. Officials have ruled out a major spill. However, Dr T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, the director of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), confirmed that there were traces of oil along the Alappuzha coast, Indian Express reported. Nair stated that authorities did not expect 'a massive oil slick" since most of the fuel was contained. Earlier, a simulation by the agency indicated that if all the diesel and furnace oil from the ship were to leak into the sea, there was a high possibility that it would drift towards the Kerala coast. Clean Up Process The authorities have deployed clean-up vessels. Aerial surveillance is being conducted to track the spread of pollutants alongside the coast. A total of 108 personnel have been tasked with container recovery and cleanup onshore. The top priorities for the authorities include recovering the oil, removing containers that have washed up on beaches and retrieving the containers adrift at sea. They have set a deadline of July 3 for completing the oil recovery efforts. Is It Safe To Consume Seafood In The Region? As of right now, authorities have advised people that there is no reason to panic. The State Fisheries Department and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) are actively monitoring the situation for any signs of contamination. Regular water sampling is underway, and authorities are closely tracking any signs of contamination. State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian told the Indian Express, 'Nothing hazardous has so far landed along the coast and fish can be consumed without fear." CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George explained to Mathrubhumi News that there was no reason to avoid eating seafood presently, as fishing is currently banned in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. This means that fish from the affected area are not being sold in the market. He added that a clearer picture of the impact will emerge soon as analysis is underway.
CNA
7 days ago
- General
- CNA
India's Kerala state on high alert as vessel with hazardous cargo sinks off its coast
KOCHI: Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday (May 26) after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was travelling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been "submerged", the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. "The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick," the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with "hazardous cargo" and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. All 24 crew members on board were rescued, with the Indian coast guard and a navy patrol boat collecting the sailors, who were from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines. Calcium carbide is used in the chemical industry, including for fertiliser production and steelmaking. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers - some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday - and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
Arab News
26-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
India rushes to contain oil spill as vessel sinks off Kerala coast
KOCHI/BENGALURU: Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was traveling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been 'submerged,' the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. 'The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick,' the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with 'hazardous cargo' and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers — some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday — and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
Reuters
26-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
India rushes to contain oil spill as vessel sinks off Kerala coast
KOCHI/ BENGALURU, May 26 (Reuters) - Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was travelling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been "submerged", the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. "The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick," the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with "hazardous cargo" and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers - some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday - and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
India rushes to contain oil spill as vessel sinks off Kerala coast
KOCHI/ BENGALURU -Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was travelling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been "submerged", the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. "The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick," the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with "hazardous cargo" and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers - some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday - and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
