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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.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
INCOIS to lay 150 km submarine cable at Andaman & Nicobar Islands to study Indian Ocean
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been chosen by the international scientific community to take up a submarine cable initiative for undertaking long term observations of the Indian Ocean. The submarine cable multi-parameter observatory of approximately 150 km in length is to be situated west of Wandoor in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The infrastructure will comprise two science nodes along the cable, equipped with oceanographic and geophysical sensors positioned at water depths ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 metres. The landing station will be established at an observatory in Wandoor, with a control centre for real-time data acquisition and monitoring at the institute headquarters here in Hyderabad, said INCOIS Director T.M. Balakrishnan Nair. This observatory is expected to play a transformative role in understanding the churning occurring in the ocean, including the seismic activity and the potential to trigger tsunamis. It will also study the various oceanographic, geophysical parameters for climate research and operational applications related to tsunami and storm surge early warning system, he said. Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme INCOIS, working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has been chosen for three of the 10 key research projects under the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) being taken up by the Inter-Governmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, headquartered in France. The programme is meant for expanding knowledge of past or potential tsunami sources, studying the impact on critical infrastructure and marine assets and how to minimise them by improving monitoring and warnings. Dr. Nair will also be in-charge of another project called People Centred Tsunami Early Warning for India (PCTWIN) for improving disaster risk knowledge, improved detection, observation, and forecasting, advancements in communication and increased preparedness. Creating a knowledge base of tsunamigenic sources in the Indian Ocean, rapid source characterization by incorporating land survey data and promoting forecast towards probabilistic tsunami forecasting is part of the research. The United Nations (UN) has called for global coverage of early warning systems, recognising tsunamis as among the deadliest natural disasters, he pointed out. Tsunami Ready Odisha The third project is 'Tsunami Ready Odisha' (TRO) project aims to strengthen coastal community resilience by enhancing awareness and preparedness to protect lives, livelihoods, and property from tsunami threats. This is linked to UNESCO-IOC 'Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme' (TRRP) to prepare coastal communities in Odisha to respond to tsunami and reduce potential losses in association with the Odisha State Disaster Management Agency (OSDMA). The institute has been providing access to tsunami hazard maps, evacuation and response plans. While two villages were declared tsunami ready, work is on for at least 20-odd more villages there, he said. Other global institutions working on various projects under the ODTP are Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Belgium, which is tasked with a sea level station monitoring facility connecting 1,034 real time stations with a network of 170 data providers for early warnings. A Global Tsunami Model (GTM) network of experts is being worked by the University of Hamburg (Germany), and Global Real Time Early Alarm for Tsunami (GREAT) by Cardiff University (UK).
