Latest news with #SamudraPrahari
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- 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.
Hans India
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Coordinated Response Measures to Oil/Hns Pollution Subsequent to Sinking of Mv Msc Elsa 3
New Delhi, 27 May 25: The coordinated efforts to protect our environmentally sensitive coastline have tremendously reduced the spread rate of oil leaking from the stricken vessel. As of 1600 hrs on 27 May 25, oil is yet to reach the shores. Consequent to sinking of container vessel, MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Allapuzha, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had issued advisory to the State administration for preparatory activities and coordination between stakeholders was established to mitigate any possible oil spill/HNS pollution scenarios. As part of the response measures, ICG has deployed three Offshore Patrol Vessels and one specialised Pollution Control Vessel, ICG Ship Samudra Prahari. Multiple aerial sorties for assessment and response to the limited spill observed are being flown by ICG Dornier aircrafts daily from ICG Air Enclave at Kochi. State Disaster Management Authority, Kerala, has issued multiple advisories giving quintessential instructions for the responders/local populace for handling of debris/cargo washing ashore. As of 1738 hrs today, 46 Containers have washed ashore across three coastal districts of Kerala. The drift pattern is in line with the ongoing weather conditions and other debris is expected to beach subsequently. ICG surveillance efforts are also underway to locate these containers at sea and forewarn the local administration of their impending arrival. Regular coordination meetings are being held to ensure coordinated and swift response to emerging situation.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Intense oil spill mitigation efforts launched by Coast Guard after Liberian cargo ship sank off Kerala coast
NEW DELHI: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has intensified surveillance and spill mitigation efforts and mobilised a specialised Pollution Response Vessel, in addition to two of its Offshore Patrol Vessels, after the environmental concerns, including the potential oil spill impact and drifting of debris and cargo emerged. The situation occurred after the Cargo Ship MV Elsa sank around 15 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on Sunday. The ICG said on Monday that it has mobilised ICG Ship Samudra Prahari in addition to its two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), which remain on-site for ongoing monitoring, assessment, and pollution response. The coast guard is also using aerial sorties and specialised dispersal equipment, Ship Samudra Prahari, "a specialised Pollution Response Vessel carrying significant quantities of Oil Spill Dispersant (OSD), along with additional OPVs in PR configuration," said ICG. To ensure safety, all passing ships have been diverted, and mariners have been warned to navigate cautiously due to floating debris and potential navigation hazards. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched a full-scale pollution response operation following the sinking of the Liberian container vessel MV MSC ELSA 3, which went down on May 25, 2025, approximately 15 nautical miles southwest of Alappuzha, Kerala. All its 24 crew were rescued by the Coast Guard and Navy.
