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First Post
6 days ago
- General
- First Post
Is it safe to eat seafood in Kerala? How the sinking of a cargo ship brought concerns to the coast
As the Liberian-flagged container ship, MSC ELSA 3, sank off the Kerala coast last week, worries over pollution caused by it continue. While officials have so far denied an oil spill, plastics from the shipwreck lining multiple shores have raised concerns about the impact on marine life and the safety of seafood in the region read more Following sinking of cargo ship off the Kerala coast, worries over potential pollution, ranging from oil to tiny plastic pellets,have raised questions about the long-term impact on marine life and the safety of seafood in the region. Image for Representation. AFP A recent capsize of a cargo ship off the Kerala coast has triggered fresh fears for the state's delicate marine ecosystem. Last week, MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged container ship travelling from Vizhinjam port to Kochi, capsized near Alappuzha. The vessel was carrying 640 containers—some of which, the Coast Guard says, included 'hazardous cargo' that has now started washing ashore. Inside the ship's tanks were also large amounts of fuel, sparking fears about a major oil spill. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While officials have denied any confirmed oil spill so far, concerns are far from over. Worries over potential pollution, ranging from oil to tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles, continue to grow, with questions being raised about the long-term impact on marine life and the safety of seafood in the region. So, how serious is the damage? What steps are authorities taking? And most importantly, can you still safely eat fish from the Kerala coast? Here's what we know so far. How difficult is it to manage an oil spill? The MSC ELSA 3 was carrying a significant amount of fuel—at least 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil, according to the Coast Guard. Though officials have ruled out a major spill, the director of Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) Dr T M Balakrishnan Nair, on Wednesday confirmed that there were traces of oil along the Alappuzha coast. 'Our six-member team has found small patches of oil slick along the coast. These are bunker oil used in ships. As the oil spill has been contained almost, we do not expect a massive oil slick. However, it would continue to appear on the southern Kerala coast in the coming days also. Everything depends upon how much oil has leaked out from the ship,' he told the Indian Express. The Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank off the coast of Kerala on Sunday. It contained at least 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil. Image courtesy: PTI Earlier, a simulation conducted by the agency suggested that if all the diesel and furnace oil from the vessel were to leak into the sea, there was a high chance it would drift towards the Kerala coast, specifically the stretch between Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. Managing oil spills is no easy task. Each incident behaves differently depending on the type and volume of oil released. Cleanup operations are often expensive, labour-intensive, and can stretch on for months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the case of MSC ELSA 3, experts say it's critical to stop the oil from reaching the shoreline. '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. This could have lasting consequences for fisheries,' Grinson George, director of Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), told The Times of India. Meanwhile, authorities say their top priorities include recovering the oil, retrieving containers adrift at sea, and removing those that have washed up on beaches. July 3 has been set as the deadline for completing oil recovery efforts. Plastic shipwreck sparks worry about pollutants Even as authorities monitor for a possible oil spill, another threat has already started washing ashore—pollutants from the cargo itself. Several containers from the sunken MSC ELSA 3 have broken loose and made landfall, bringing with them plastic pellets, chemicals, and potentially hazardous materials. In recent days, beaches in Thiruvananthapuram, such as Thumba and Kochuveli, have seen large amounts of nurdles, small plastic pellets used in the production of plastic goods. These can be mistaken for food by marine life and are extremely difficult to clean up once they spread, reports _The News Minute. _ STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 🚨 Eco-Disaster Unfolding in India Millions of plastic pellets (nurdles) are washing up on Kerala's shores after the MSC ELSA3 shipwreck. 🐢 Marine life is choking. 🌍 Ecosystems are at risk. 👣 Humans aren't far behind. This is a global wake-up call.#NurdleSpill #PlasticCrisis… — Paulose Jacob Peter (@Anand02908794) May 28, 2025 INCOIS has predicted that nurdles may drift along a stretch of 84 nautical miles off the Kovalam coast by May 29. As per an update by the INCOIS on May 26, 30 tonnes of cargo have been floating in the sea, while 45 tonnes have reached the shore. Around 25 tonnes of cargo have either evaporated or dispersed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A recent yet-to-be-published study has already raised alarms about the region's vulnerability. 'Incidents like this will cause the presence of microplastics in commercially available fish to go beyond the permissible levels. Bioaccumulation of these pollutants in our body will have long-term impacts,' Dr Shaju SS, assistant professor at the Department of Chemical Oceanography at Cochin University of Science and Technology, told The News Minute. The ship was also carrying 640 containers, which also included 13 marked as 'hazardous cargo' and 12 containing calcium carbide. Kerala holds emergency expert meet after Liberian ship sinks near shore, bans fishing, deploys pollution control teams. PTI The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a public warning, urging people not to approach any containers washed up on shore, as calcium carbide can trigger dangerous exothermic reactions if it comes into contact with water and can cause explosions, Shaju told the outlet. The Coast Guard has responded by deploying clean-up vessels and conducting aerial surveillance to track the spread of pollutants. Authorities have also deployed 108 personnel onshore for container recovery and cleanup. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Thirty-eight people have been deployed in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Kollam, linked directly to DDMA (District Disaster Management Authority). District Collectors are actively coordinating response efforts. Fifty containers have been traced across seven sites. Efforts are underway to retrieve them within two days,' Capt Abul Kalam Azad, Nautical Advisor to the Union Government, said. Is it safe to eat seafood? So far, yes. Despite the concerns surrounding the sunken vessel and potential pollutants, experts say there is no need to panic, at least not yet. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the State Fisheries Department are actively monitoring the situation. Regular water sampling is underway, and authorities are closely tracking any signs of contamination. Speaking to Kerala-based outlet Mathrubhumi News, CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said there's currently no reason to avoid eating seafood as fish from the affected area are not entering the market. Fishing is currently banned in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said there's currently no reason to avoid eating seafood as fish from the affected area are not entering the market. Fishing is currently banned in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. File image/PTI The outlet also cited food safety experts who noted that unless there's confirmed leakage, the situation shouldn't raise alarm. Even in the event of some leakage, the vast volume of seawater could help dilute any harmful substances before they pose a widespread threat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As of now, agencies continue to test seawater quality and collect samples. The Fisheries Department is expected to issue official guidance once the scientific assessments are complete. With input from agencies
Indian Express
7 days ago
- 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.
News18
26-05-2025
- Climate
- News18
Oil Spill To Hit Kerala Coast By Monday Night, Warn Scientists As Monsoon Current Intensifies Drift
Last Updated: Scientists are tracking the trajectory of the oil spill to predict where it is likely to move. The monsoon, which made its onset on 24 May, has made the operation difficult. Rough monsoon seas and shifting currents are accelerating the spread of the oil spill off Kerala's coast, with scientists warning that the oil pollutants from the spill could reach the southern districts of the state as early as Monday night – raising contamination concerns. The spill, drifting southeast, is expected to hit the coast near Alappuzha, initially affecting around 21 km of the coastline. But it is likely to potentially expand to 43 km by Tuesday morning, with scientists monitoring its movement by satellite. 'Our models indicate a very high probability that the overboard containers may drift towards the Kerala coast as early as Monday night or Tuesday morning. The southern districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram are very vulnerable and likely to be impacted. We have already issued coastal advisories and urged people to take all precautions," Dr T M Balakrishnan Nair, Director, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), told CNN-NEWS18. The coastal districts in Kerala remain on alert after a Liberian-flagged cargo ship carrying tonnes of oil and containers with 'hazardous cargo' capsized off the coast of Kochi around 1:25 pm, while en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi Port in the Arabian Sea. While all the members aboard the ship have been safely rescued, the oil spill is now rapidly drifting towards the shore, raising concerns of major contamination. Wind, Waves, And Vigorous Monsoon 'It is the ocean current, wind and waves which determine how fast the debris reaches the shore. As of now, with the winds gusting and the waves up to 3–3.5 metres high, these containers could be ashore as early as tonight. We have alerted the local fishermen of the potential risks and are tracking the situation in real-time through satellites," he added. The vessel had started tilting 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi. There are also concerns that the marine fuel used in the ship has also leaked into the sea, apart from the oil in the fallen containers. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo, and 12 with Calcium Carbide. Additionally, the ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks. Tracking The Oil Spill Scientists are tracking the trajectory of the oil spill to predict where it is likely to move, and to what extent. The southwest monsoon, which just made its onset over Kerala on 24 May has made the operation further challenging. Senior marine scientist and former Director, INCOIS, Dr S C Shenoi, said the active monsoon conditions and rough seas could drive the spill ashore sooner than anticipated. 'With a very active monsoon off India's west coast, the combination of strong winds, high waves and shifting ocean currents can rapidly push the oil slick towards the land. Although the Arabian Sea currents typically flow southward during monsoon onset, the winds and waves can override that pattern, raising the risk of shoreline contamination," he added. Moreover, as the ship sinks, the oil continues to leak into the sea. But the rate and the extent of the spill depend on how quickly the vessel is salvaged. The longer it remains submerged, the more oil it is likely to ooze out, increasing the risk of marine and coastal contamination. 'As the oil moves, it can coagulate and begin to settle on the sea floor. Though this varies by oil type and is difficult to measure precisely. We keep the Coast Guard informed, which coordinates the clean-up operation. Eventually, as the oil reaches shore, it may wash up on beaches," he said, warning of the serious environmental impacts. Experts say minor oil spills are frequent while refuelling a ship, but they can spell major environmental and health disaster when they occur due to breaks in the pipelines, or when drilling operations go wrong or big cargo ships or oil tanker ships sink, as in the present case. Since oil has many different toxic compounds, it can seriously harm ocean life, which is difficult to rescue in such a situation. The toxic compounds in the fossil fuels can also cause severe health problems depending on the concentrations, and the composition of the contaminants. First Published:
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Potential oil spill threatens Kerala's southern coast after container ship capsizes
Authorities are closely monitoring the southern coast of Kerala following the capsizing of a Liberian-flagged container ship in the Arabian Sea on Saturday afternoon. The vessel, en route to Kochi Port from Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram, tilted in rough sea conditions before multiple containers — some reportedly carrying 'hazardous cargo' —fell into the water and began to sink by Sunday, officials said. As of Sunday, no oil spill has been reported. However, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services (INCOIS) has warned that if spillage does occur, at least two coastal districts in southern Kerala could face contamination within 36 to 48 hours. 'At present, the oil spillage is not reported,' said TM Balakrishnan Nair, director of INCOIS, in a special forecast issued Sunday. 'If the oil spillage occurs, INCOIS has presented the scenario of affected areas. These coastal zones are at the risk of contamination and should be given prompt attention to minimize the potential environmental impact.' The areas identified as most vulnerable include Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha, and Karunagappally. Among the containers the vessel was carrying were 13 that contained what the Coast Guard said was 'hazardous cargo' and 12 that contained calcium carbide. Following a rescue operation that started late Saturday, the Indian Coast Guard and personnel from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority have been able to save all crew members. Since the incident is just about nearing 24 hours, the incident of oil spill has not commenced yet, INCOIS stated in its special forecast message on Sunday.
