Latest news with #WanHai503
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre seeks environmental impact assessment on MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck
The Centre has requested the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Tamil Nadu, to undertake a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the sinking of the container ship MSC Elsa 3 off the Alappuzha coast on May 25. The Centre's decision was conveyed by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 21, 2025). He was replying to a question raised by Hibi Eden, MP, on whether the government had conducted or initiated a detailed EIA into the back-to-back ship accidents off the Kerala coast, including the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 and the explosion on the Singapore-flagged vessel Wan Hai 503 off the Beypore coast on June 9. 'The EIA on the MSC Elsa 3 incident will be carried out in coordination with the State government. A total of 66 containers had washed ashore and have since been recovered by the agency appointed by the owners of MSC Elsa 3. None of the containers contained hazardous cargo, and no damage or hazard has been reported. Around 540 metric tonnes of plastic nurdles have been collected from the Kerala coast and the southern coast of Tamil Nadu,' Mr. Singh said. In the case of Wan Hai 503, the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Directorate General of Shipping, and other authorities concerned took proactive measures to contain and mitigate any potential environmental risks, according to the Minister.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Smouldering Wan Hai 503 still adrift without a port of refuge
Nearly a month after the Singapore-flagged vessel Wan Hai 503 caught fire off the coast of Kerala, the vessel continues to be adrift, emitting fire and smoke and weathering stormy weather and rain in the Arabian Sea. Though the vessel is adrift approximately 130 nautical miles off the Indian coastline, outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary, the vessel continues to remain on a high-density shipping corridor, necessitating continuous traffic warnings to passing vessels. Plan not submitted An assessment conducted by the salvage team (T&T Salvage) stressed the need for a port of refuge, as removing fuel from the vessel offshore still remains unsafe. However, the owner and salvors of the ship are yet to submit a detailed plan to the Indian authorities for fuel transfer and moving the vessel to a port of refuge. If there's a delay in the salvage operation, the vessel has to be towed further south of its current position, around 200 nautical miles away from the Indian coast, according to the report of the Directorate General of Shipping. It is also necessary that the onboard fire has to be fully contained before it reaches the port of refuge. As per the latest report, the temperature on the left and right of the vessel was 64°C and 68°C, respectively. Speaking to The Hindu, a senior shipping crew said the weather in the Arabian Sea is the major hindrance to the containment of fire and smoke. The squally weather with wind, occasionally gusting to 100 km/hour, adds fuel to the fire. Further, it is not possible to apply fire extinguisher from the top of the ship since choppers can carry only a limited quantity. A good number of containers have undeclared cargo, which adds to the woes of the firefighters, he said. 'The best option' Once fire spreads to petrochemical products, it is difficult to contain it, said Sekhar Kuriakose, member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. The monsoon rain will not help contain the fire. 'The best option is to find a port of refuge at the earliest before the hull disintegrates. Considering the current position of the ship, navigating it to the coast of Africa would be ideal,' said Mr. Kuriakose. It was on June 9 that the Singapore-flagged vessel witnessed container explosions causing a significant onboard fire, around 44 nautical miles from Azhikkal. The entire vessel was engulfed by the fire.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Infra Weekly
View in Browser / Infra Weekly Ship sinkings, systemic flaws & strategic maritime shifts: What moved last week! In less than a month, India witnessed two ship disasters off its coast – a container ship capsized and sank while another caught fire, triggered by an explosion in one of the containers on board. While the environmental damage from the mishaps is yet to be ascertained, the incidents showed India's unpreparedness in dealing with high stakes maritime casualties. However, more than the fire on board 'Wan Hai 503' that lingered for many days before it was doused by the valiant efforts of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy, it was the sinking of 'MSC ELSA 3' that proved to be graver as it revealed insights into one of the 'most opaque and under-regulated dimensions of global maritime commerce', which ET Infra reported in detail. This dark side of shipping holds huge ramifications for India as borne out by the events that unfolded post the sinking of the ship. It is a wake-up call for Indian authorities as well as global maritime organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to undertake reforms in the maritime sector to tackle such incidents. The sooner it happens, the better it is for the safe operation of ships. Read the full story Other top stories of the week: Mitsui OSK to invest in Indian logistics startup Japanese shipping major Mitsui OSK Lines is investing in an Indian logistics startup as part of a broader non-marine expansion strategy. More here JSW Infra set to win ₹832 cr container terminal at Kolkata Port JSW Infrastructure is poised to bag the Netaji Subhas Dock terminal project, boosting its eastern maritime presence. Read the update Adani's $1.2 billion Haifa Port deal faces geopolitical heat Adani's strategic acquisition of Haifa Port in Israel faces scrutiny amid rising regional tensions, but the move underscores its global port ambitions. Full story India's largest port in the making eyes ₹30,000 cr debt raise The mega Vadhavan Port project, set to become India's biggest, will soon tap markets for ₹30,000 crore in debt financing to fund its development. Catch the update Strait of Hormuz stays open, but risk triggers rerouting Despite remaining navigable, rising tensions in the Middle East have prompted shipowners to re-route vessels away from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime arteries. Read more We'd love your feedback. Tell us which story struck you most and how we can improve the newsletter as we move forward. Dear Readers,In less than a month, India witnessed two ship disasters off its coast – a container ship capsized and sank while another caught fire, triggered by an explosion in one of the containers on the environmental damage from the mishaps is yet to be ascertained, the incidents showed India's unpreparedness in dealing with high stakes maritime more than the fire on board 'Wan Hai 503' that lingered for many days before it was doused by the valiant efforts of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy, it was the sinking of 'MSC ELSA 3' that proved to be graver as it revealed insights into one of the 'most opaque and under-regulated dimensions of global maritime commerce', which ET Infra reported in dark side of shipping holds huge ramifications for India as borne out by the events that unfolded post the sinking of the is a wake-up call for Indian authorities as well as global maritime organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to undertake reforms in the maritime sector to tackle such sooner it happens, the better it is for the safe operation of shipping majoris investing in an Indian logistics startup as part of a broader non-marine expansion Infrastructure is poised to bag the Netaji Subhas Dock terminal project, boosting its eastern maritime strategic acquisition of Haifa Port in Israel faces scrutiny amid rising regional tensions, but the move underscores its global port mega Vadhavan Port project, set to become India's biggest, will soon tap markets for ₹30,000 crore in debt financing to fund its remaining navigable, rising tensions in the Middle East have prompted shipowners to re-route vessels away from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime us which story struck you most and how we can improve the newsletter as we move forward. To become an ETInfra newsletter subscriber and to access newsletter archive, We'd love to hear your feedback on this new become an ETInfra newsletter subscriber and to access newsletter archive, click here Liked it? Share it with your friends
Scroll.in
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Toxic wake-up call: What Kerala should earn from Sri Lanka's shipwreck nightmare
June 2025 marks four years since the container vessel X-Press Pearl, ablaze and bleeding toxins into the Indian Ocean, transformed Sri Lanka's golden coastline into a graveyard of marine life and livelihoods. The fire burned for 13 days – but its consequences still smolder. Plastic nurdles still wash up with the tide. Fishers still net smaller catches. Courts still chase compensation as corporations count profits. A $6.4- billion suit for damages resulted in just and measly $7.85 million being paid out in compensation. Now, off Kerala's coast, MSC Elsa-3 and Wan Hai 503 lie in uneasy silence, ticking time bombs in sunken rusted hulls, carrying their own cargo of chemical danger and bureaucratic amnesia. The parallels are not just uncanny. They are intolerable. Sri Lanka's disaster occurred during economic collapse. Kerala has no such excuse. Yet our response of being initially reluctant to arrest the captain or file suits and merely settle for insurance We are not witnessing accidents. We are watching a global pattern. When ships carrying hazardous cargo sail under Flags of Convenience and developing nations lack enforcement muscle, disasters are inevitable. The question is whether Kerala and India will simply react – or lead. Sri Lanka's experience reveals three fatal governance failures. First, the illusion of preparedness. Colombo's ports had no real spill protocol. Kerala's current response – hand-sieving plastic nurdles from beaches – is equally symbolic. Fire on the MV X-Press Pearl off the coast of Sri Lanka caused a vast spill of hazardous chemicals, including corrosive nitric acid -wiping out wildlife & devastating livelihoods for fishing families. 3 yrs on, allegations a web of corruption hampers clean up & compensation.🧵 — leanahosea (@leanahosea) October 30, 2024 Second, the compensation trap. Sri Lanka recovered just 0.1% of its estimated losses. Unless Kerala demands upfront cleanup funds and legal liability, we risk similar token payouts. Third, institutional amnesia. Despite mass fish deaths and toxic runoff, Sri Lanka never revised its port clearance laws. Kerala's unchanged protocols after two wrecks suggest not just institutional denial, but a troubling deference to the interests of powerful private conglomerates. This is unbecoming of a Left Democratic Front in power. The time for half-measures is over. Kerala must act decisively – scientifically, legally, and regionally. First, we need real-time ecological forensics. Deploy the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Institute of Oceanographyand relevant agencies to map contamination, not months later but now. Equip fisherfolk with toxin test kits and crowdsource coastal data. Create public databases to make corporate secrecy impossible. Second, use India's own laws, not distant arbitration. File criminal charges under the relevant Environmental Protection and Criminal Negligence Acts. Demand that MSC and Wan Hai deposit clean-up funds before negotiations. And if port operators remain lax, freeze their assets until safety reforms are in place. Third, empower the people who know the sea best. Train fisher collectives as first responders. Enable them to file claims as cooperatives. Use community science tools to track fish catch declines and contamination trends. Finally, this must go beyond Kerala. India should lead a South Asian Maritime Safety Pact. Share blacklists of repeat-offender shipping lines. Coordinate joint drills with regional navies. After all, oil slicks and plastic nurdles do not respect borders. We have a narrow window to act. The sea, once betrayed, is slow to forgive. If Kerala fails to learn from Colombo, we too will face empty beaches, poisoned nets, and endless courtrooms. The X-Press Pearl showed the cost of silence. Kerala now has a choice: protect our shores or become another case study in global environmental neglect.
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Wan Hai fire: Cops seek DNA, fingerprint data of missing crew members from firm
KOCHI: Police probing the fire on Wan Hai 503 ship have sought DNA and fingerprint data of the four missing crew members from the shipping company. The Fort Kochi coast police, which is investigating the case, is awaiting information from the shipping firm to complete the identification procedure after the body of a foreign national washed ashore at Arthunkal recently. It was on June 9 that the Singapore-flagged ship on its way to Mumbai port from Colombo caught fire around 44 nautical miles off Kannur coast. As many as 18 crew members were rescued. However, four members are still missing. 'The search and rescue operation for the four missing crew members has been called off due to no further result. However, we suspect a dead body washed ashore at Aruthunkal was of a crew member who is an Indonesian national. But no confirmation could be made and we haven't received any details of the missing crew either,' an officer said.
