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News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Liberian Ship Capsises In Kerala Indian Coast Guard Monitoring Oil Spill In Kerala
Breaking | Pro Defence Kochi says the situation is being closely monitored by the Indian Coast Guard. Efforts are underway to contain the oil spill off the Kerala coast.-----The Kerala government has issued a high alert along the state's coastline following the capsizing of container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the Kochi vessels of the Indian Coast Guard – Vikram, Saksham and Samarth – have been deployed off the Kochi coast to respond to a marine pollution emergency that arose after a Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 capsized. Containers from the shipwreck had started washing ashore since yesterday. Some of these containers contain hazardous cargo apart from several metric tonnes of oil which is posing a threat of oil pollution. n18oc_india
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Oil spill scare off Kerala: Day after cargo ship capsized, 30 containers wash up ashore
A day after the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, capsized off the Kerala coast, 30 containers washed ashore on Monday. However, no oil spill has reached the shore as of Monday evening. A defence spokesperson in Kochi said three Coast Guard vessels, Vikram, Saksham and Samarth, have been deployed in a pollution response configuration in the area where the ship capsized. These vessels utilised infrared cameras to detect the oil spill area and utilised oil spill dispersant to contain the spread of oil, officials said. Besides, a Dornier aircraft equipped with specialised gear has been positioned in Kochi to undertake aerial assessments of the oil spill situation. A dedicated pollution control vessel, Samudra Prahari, is being mobilised from Mumbai to further augment oil spill response efforts. In the coastal regions of Kerala's Alappuzha and Kollam districts, 30 of the containers that detached from the capsized ship washed ashore on Monday. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority member secretary Sekhar Kuriakose said, 'These containers did not contain anything harmful. More containers may wash ashore in the coming days. We have warned the people not to go near the containers. Customs, as well as the representatives of the shipping firm, will be handling the containers.' The Coast Guard had earlier said that the ship, which had 640 containers, was carrying 13 containers with 'hazardous cargo' and 12 with calcium carbide. It also said the ship had '84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks'. Kuriakose said the state government has asked the Factories and Boilers Department to make ready two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) each in southern and central Kerala districts, and one each in the northern districts. Besides, in the event of oil slick reaching the shore, the State Pollution Control Board was directed to make ready two RRTs each in the southern and central coastal districts and one each in the northern districts. Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) will soon launch a field study on the fallout of the emerging scenario on marine ecosystems. CMFRI director Dr Grinson George said the institute is closely monitoring the situation following reports of a possible oil spill in the Arabian Sea. The ecological and economic impact will depend on the scale of the leakage. 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, he said, adding that this could have long-term consequences for fisheries. The monsoon season typically supports high marine productivity, and a strong fishing season was anticipated. The scale of the impact is dependent on the amount of leakage and how it can be contained, he said.
United News of India
26-05-2025
- General
- United News of India
Three ICG vessels deployed to detect oil spill areas in Arabian Sea
Kochi, May 26 (UNI) Three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels have been deployed to detect oil spill areas after the sinking of the Liberian container vessel, which capsized and subsequently sank in the Arabian Sea en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi Port. The ICG vessels, Vikram, Saksham and Samarth were deployed in the area in Pollution Response configuration. These vessels utilised IR cameras to detect the oil spill area and utilised OSD (Oil Spill Desperant) to contain the spread of oil. An ICG Dornier aircraft equipped with specialised gear has been positioned in Kochi to undertake an aerial assessment of the oil spill situation. Additionally, a dedicated Pollution Control vessel 'Samudra Prahari' is being mobilised from Mumbai to further augment oil spill response efforts. ICG officials at DHQ-4 are maintaining constant communication with other Government officials in an advisory capacity for any shoreline cleanup operation. Earlier, a public advisory has been issued directing people not to approach or interact with any floating or beached containers or debris, as they may contain dangerous substances. A total of 643 containers were on board, of which 73 were empty and 13 were carrying hazardous goods, including Calcium Carbide; a chemical that reacts violently with water to release highly flammable acetylene gas. On May 24 at around 13:25 hrs, the container ship MSC ELSA 3 capsized and subsequently sank in the Arabian Sea en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi Port. All goods on board were non-duty paid at the time of the incident, and any unauthorized removal or pilferage of such goods is illegal, according to the advisory issued by the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone. Customs Marine and Preventive units have been deployed along the Kerala coast, and surveillance is ongoing in coordination with other agencies. Instead, anyone sighting such material is requested to immediately inform Customs Authorities at the below given numbers. Public cooperation is vital to ensuring safety and assisting ongoing recovery efforts, it said. Contact numbers: Custom House, Kochi Control Room: 0484-2666422, Customs (Preventive) Control Room, Kochi: 0484-4569400, and Customs Preventive Unit, Alleppey: 0477-2991132. UNI DS BD
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Coast Guard initiates steps to contain oil spill from sunken ship
Three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels Vikram, Saksham, and Samarth are relying on infrared cameras to detect the extent of the oil spill in the vicinity of the Liberian container ship MSC ELSA 3 that sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday morning. They also utilised oil spill dispersant (OSD) to contain the spread of oil from the vessel that was carrying 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil when it sank. These apart, a dedicated pollution control vessel is being mobilised from Mumbai to catalyse oil spill containment efforts, while a Dornier aircraft of the ICG equipped with specialised gear is positioned in Kochi for aerial assessment of the oil spill, says a defence release. To ensure safety of other vessels, all ships through the route have been diverted, and mariners warned to navigate cautiously due to floating debris and potential navigation hazards. Two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) have been deployed on-site for round the clock monitoring, while pollution response vessel Samudra Prahari and additional OPVs have been mobilised with large quantities of OSD. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. The Mercantile Marine department, Kochi, issued a pollution liability warning to the vessel owners MSC under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 while the MSC appointed T&T Salvage for container recovery, oil removal, and environmental clean-up. The ICG also advised the State government to prepare for shoreline clean-up and alert local communities not to handle any cargo or debris that may wash ashore. In addition, ICG officials are in constant communication with government agencies concerned, in an advisory capacity, for shoreline clean-up operation, it is learnt.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- General
- NDTV
Liberian Shipwreck Containers Wash Ashore Kerala Coast Amid Oil Spill Crisis
Kollam: Containers from a Liberian cargo ship that sank off the Kerala coast have started washing ashore, while the oil spill spreading from the vessel has prompted authorities to issue a high alert along the state's coastline, officials said on Monday. Authorities said that some containers have been found along the coasts of southern Kollam and coastal Alappuzha districts. In the wake of the sinking of the ship off the Kerala coast, a high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to assess the situation. An advisory has been issued urging coastal residents and fishermen to remain vigilant. So far, nine containers have washed ashore, and an advisory has been reiterated for coastal residents and fishermen to remain alert, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The cargo ship capsized and sank early on Sunday, leading to a significant oil spill. According to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the sunken vessel had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks. Adding more problems to authorities, some containers were carrying hazardous substances such as calcium carbide--a chemical that reacts with seawater to release highly flammable acetylene gas, officials said. "Fuel from the ship has also leaked. Nine containers have washed ashore between last night and this morning. Four were found near Shaktikulangara harbour, three near Chavara, one at Cheriyazheekal (Kollam district), and another at Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha. The Coast Guard is taking measures to contain the oil spill using two vessels," the statement said. The CMO said a Dornier aircraft is being used to spray dispersant powder to neutralise the oil spill. "Since the incident falls under a Tier 2 category disaster, response and containment efforts are being carried out using national forces, facilities, and resources. The Director General of the Coast Guard is the head of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan," it added. The statement further noted that there is a higher likelihood of containers washing ashore along the coasts of Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. "As there is a risk of the oil spill spreading, a high alert has been issued along the entire Kerala coast," it said. Authorities have warned the public and fishermen not to touch, approach, or gather near any unusual objects or containers found on the shore. They are advised to stay at least 200 metres away and report such sightings by calling 112. While a weather-related advisory remains in place for fishermen to avoid going to sea, fishing is strictly prohibited within 20 nautical miles of the shipwreck site, and the same safety instructions apply. A Defence PRO said that three Indian Coast Guard vessels -- Vikram, Saksham, and Samarth-- have been deployed in the area in Pollution Response configuration, using infrared cameras to detect the oil spill and dispersants (OSD) to contain its spread. An ICG Dornier aircraft equipped with specialised equipment has been stationed in Kochi to carry out aerial assessments of the oil spill, he said. Additionally, the dedicated pollution control vessel Samudra Prahari is being mobilised from Mumbai to bolster the ongoing response, while Coast Guard officials at DHQ-4 remain in regular contact with government authorities to advise on potential shoreline clean-up operations, the PRO added. The leak has sparked a statewide alert, as fuel is drifting at a speed of around three kilometres per hour and could soon impact the ecologically sensitive Kerala coastline. Meanwhile, the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone, stated that of the total 643 containers on board, 73 were empty and 13 were carrying hazardous and dangerous goods, including calcium carbide--a chemical that reacts violently with water to release highly flammable acetylene gas. "All goods on board were non-duty paid at the time of the incident, and any unauthorised removal or pilferage of such goods is illegal," the statement added. Customs Marine and Preventive Units have been deployed along the Kerala coast, and surveillance is ongoing in coordination with other agencies. "The public is strongly advised not to approach or interact with any floating or beached containers or debris, as they may contain dangerous substances," it warned. Public cooperation is vital to ensuring safety and supporting ongoing recovery efforts, the statement added.
