Latest news with #Kochi
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Container ship sinks off India's south coast with hazardous cargo
The vessel went down with 640 containers, including 12 containing calcium carbide. (Indian defence public relations office of Mumbai/AFP pic) BENGALURU : A Liberian-flagged container ship with hazardous cargo has sunk off the coast of Kerala in India's south, the navy said today after rescuing all 24 crew members safely. India's navy said the MSC ELSA 3, listed as a 184m-long freight ship, which was sailing from the Indian port of Vizhinjam to Kochi, ran into trouble yesterday and issued a distress call. Navy aircraft scrambled to the area and spotted two life rafts, with the container ship listing at a dangerous angle some 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi. 'All 24 crew members on board were rescued,' the ministry of defence said in a statement, with the Indian coast guard (ICG) and a navy patrol boat collecting the sailors, who were from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines. 'The vessel went down with 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide,' the statement said. The defence ministry did not specify what was inside the containers it said were hazardous. Calcium carbide is used in the chemical industry, including for fertiliser production and steelmaking. 'Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast, ICG has activated full pollution response preparedness,' the navy said. The vessel also contained some 370 tonnes of fuel and oil but, while the coast guard had deployed 'detection systems', it said that 'so far, no oil spill has been reported'.
Skift
3 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Inside India's Events and Meetings Aspirations
India upped its convention center game for the G20 Summit last year. Now, it is trying to drum up the marketing for these spaces across the country. But is India really MICE ready? India wants to feature among the world's top destinations for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE). Earlier this month, tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called MICE the fastest-growing tourism segment in India and a key driver for the country's economic growth. According to Shekhawat, India's MICE market generated $49.4 billion in revenue last year. That figure is expected to more than double to $103.7 billion by 2030. This growth, he said, will be driven by 'recent developments in MICE-ready destinations coming up in cities like Varanasi, Khajuraho and Kochi.' But while the government is bullish, event industry insiders say the ground reality is more complicated. More Than Convention Centers: A successful MICE destination requires more than just a convention center, Ramanpreet Singh, vice president of growth and strategy at events management company SKIL told Skift. 'It is about building a holistic ecosystem through air connectivity, multiple high-quality hotel options, efficient ground logistics, safety and security, digital readiness and above all, ease of doing business." Singh added that simple permissions, proactive local authorities, and support from the community are just as crucial as physical infrastructure. Samit Garg, president of the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) and co-founder of E-Factor Experiences, agreed. For him, destinations need to be appealing on multiple levels. "Culture, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment matter to delegates." Both SKIL and EEMA pointed to several smaller cities that are on the way to be MICE-suitable: Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa, Rishikesh, Jim Corbett, Kochi, Gandhinagar, Varanasi, and Amritsar. But the real challenge: converting intent into real MICE capability. Take for instance, a destination like Khajuraho that the central government is positioning as a MICE venue after the opening of a convention center. 'The ground reality is still quite different,' Singh said. 'It remains a Tier‐2 town with limited flight connectivity, modest hotel infrastructure, and very basic support services." Singh pointed out that while the intent to develop it as a MICE destination is commendable, the actual ecosystem required to host large‐scale corporate events is still a work in progress. "Other cities that show strong promise include Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Shillong, Diu, and Bhubaneswar,' he said. Emerging Trends in MICE: According to Garg, the MICE sector itself is changing: "Event formats are evolving with hybrid events, AI-driven delegate engagement, and immersive technologies like AR/VR. Also, sustainability and smaller, boutique summits are gaining popularity." Personalization and incorporation of corporate-social responsibility (CSR) activities are also becoming key elements of events, Singh said. 'There is also a growing preference for experiential venues over standard banquet spaces,' he added. Integration of local culture, wellness, and local experiences is also becoming the norm. Singh added, 'MICE on cruises is an emerging format that is becoming increasingly attractive for corporates looking to create immersive, high‐impact experiences. Cruises work particularly well for incentive travel, leadership offsites, and celebratory events because they offer a contained environment with curated experiences.' Global Standing: India is positioning itself as a MICE destination for the world. Globally, MICE destinations have smooth transport, vendor readiness, top‐tier hospitality, entertainment options, and active government support. In India, Singh said, 'The infrastructure still feels disjointed. Organizers often have to stitch things together on their own. We're moving in the right direction, but we're not there yet.' Indian Visitors Were Washington, DC's Highest Spenders in 2024 In 2024, Indian visitors were the highest spenders in Washington, DC as they spent $344 million in the city last year. India was also the third-biggest international source market for Washington after Canada and the United Kingdom, Destination DC said in a statement. According to Tourism Economics, 191,000 Indians visited the destination. In 2024, India was the fourth-largest source country for the U.S., after Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Nearly 2.2 million Indians visited the country, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Administration. According to recent data shared by Skift Research, among the five major source markets of the U.S. — Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United Kingdom — there is a sharp decline in interest in visiting the U.S. among all sources except for India. 'In Canada, the share of negatively biased travelers exceeded those with a positive bias by 36%. In India, there was a net positivity gap of +41% in favor of travelers being 'more likely' to visit the U.S. today versus 12 months ago,' the report said. IHCL to Invest in Hotels in Northeast Indian States Taj-parent Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) is looking to invest in hotels in Northeast India as the number of tourists in the region increase. The company's area director for North East Jayanta Das said at a recent event that IHCL is looking to increase its presence in the Northeast across its brands to 30 hotels by 2030. He added that the company is looking to invest INR 25 billion ($293 million) in the region over the next three years. IHCL is also looking to build new tourist circuits and itineraries across all eight states in the region, Das added. 'Our planned expansion into the northeast is backed by belief in sustainable luxury and community-led development. We currently have nine operating hotels and two luxury homestays,' he said. The company's pipeline includes five upcoming hotels in Agartala, Itanagar, Guwahati, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh. Delhi's Terminal 1 Airport Roof Damaged A part of the roof outside Delhi Airport's domestic terminal T1 was damaged in the rainfall. The tensile fabric used as the roof in the arrival forecourt tore off due to water collection. No one was injured in the incident. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson said that there was no structural compromise or impact to other parts of the terminal. 'Swift action was taken by the ground teams to restore normal conditions, ensuring safety and continuity of operations with minimal disruption,' the statement added. A similar incident had taken place last June when a canopy at the departure forecourt collapsed leading to one fatality and injuries to several other people. Meliá Hotels Launches 'Atithi Program' for Indian Groups Spanish hotel chain Meliá Hotels International has unveiled an initiative designed for Indian groups. The 'Atithi Program' (guest program) has been created to welcome Indian groups traveling to Europe, the company said in a statement. It added that the program introduces specialized offerings for Indian tourists including culturally familiar aspects and Indian cuisine. The program also aims to cater to Indian weddings, corporate offsites, and celebratory getaways. For this, Meliá has curated a portfolio of hotels across key European destinations. All the properties are experienced in hosting Indian groups and events, it added. Radisson Expands Presence in East India Radisson Hotel Group has signed three new hotels in East India — Radisson Blu Hotel Deoghar, Jharkhand, Radisson RED Puri, Odisha, and Radisson Resort & Spa, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The three properties have a combined inventory of 400 keys. According to Nikhil Sharma, managing director in South Asia region for Radisson Hotel Group, the expansion is driven by growing momentum of spiritual, cultural, and medical tourism in India and these regions.
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Oil spill feared after cargo ship sinks off Kerala coast and containers wash ashore
India is scrambling to contain a potential environmental disaster after a container vessel sank off the coast of Kochi in Kerala, raising fears of an oil and hazardous chemical spill along the state's southern shoreline. The Liberia -flagged vessel MSC ELSA 3, carrying over 640 containers, sank about 38 nautical miles west of Kochi on Saturday. Among its cargo were 13 containers marked hazardous and 12 carrying calcium carbide, a highly reactive chemical. The ship also had more than 450 tonnes of fuel onboard, including 84 tonnes of diesel and 367 tonnes of furnace oil. The entire ship has since been submerged as the coast guard tried to block the oil with two ships, according to a statement from the Kerala chief minister's office. 'A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick," the statement said. All 24 crew members were safely rescued by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy before the ship went under, but officials say the threat to the marine environment remains serious. Some containers have already washed ashore in coastal districts like Kollam and Alappuzha, prompting warnings from local authorities. Fishermen and residents have been advised not to approach or touch any container that has washed up or is floating near the coast. The Indian Coast Guard has launched a full-scale pollution response operation, deploying vessels equipped with containment booms, skimmers, and dispersants to try to control any oil that may have leaked from the sunken ship. An aircraft is also conducting aerial surveillance to assess the scale of the spill. The Kerala government has declared a state of environmental alert, asking people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. 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. Authorities are still assessing whether any hazardous materials have leaked from the sunken containers, but the presence of calcium carbide – which reacts violently with water – has added to the urgency of the response.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
India races to contain oil spill after cargo ship with hazardous materials sinks off Kerala
BENGALURU (India), May 26 — India's coastguard raced today to contain an oil spill from a container ship with hazardous cargo that sank off the southern coast yesterday, Kerala's state government said. The Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3, listed as a 184-metre (603-foot) freight ship, went down off the coast of Kerala yesterday, with all 24 crew members rescued. It was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide, a chemical used for fertiliser production and steelmaking. The vessel also contained some 370 tonnes of fuel and oil. 'The Coast Guard is taking action to prevent the spread of oil using two ships,' Kerala's government said in a statement. 'The work of spraying dust to destroy the oil is in progress using a Dornier aircraft'. India's defence ministry said the ship sank 'due to flooding' some 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, raising concerns for the 'sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast'. The government has put coastal areas on high alert and warned people not to touch or approach any containers — some of which have already washed up along the coast. The ship was sailing between the Indian ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi when it ran into trouble on Saturday and issued a distress call. — AFP
Russia Today
5 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
Indian authorities declare emergency over hazardous cargo spill
Authorities in the Indian state of Kerala have declared a state of emergency after a vessel carrying oil and other hazardous materials capsized off the coast on Sunday. The incident has triggered fears of a major spill and environmental hazard. The Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC ELSA 3, carrying diesel, furnace oil, and containers with hazardous cargo, capsized near Kochi in southern part of India due to a load imbalance, local authorities stated on Sunday. All 24 crew members were rescued, officials added. The vessel began tilting 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi on Saturday and capsized rapidly in the early hours of Sunday due to flooding in one of the holds, the coast guard said in a statement. The ship was carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel, 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, and 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide, the coast guard noted. All 24 crew members ex Liberian-flagged container Vessel MSC ELSA 3 rescued safely, 21 by @IndiaCoastGuard & 03 by @indiannavy Ship Sujata after vessel sank off #Kochi this morning. Vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium… The Kerala government declared a statewide emergency on Sunday amid fears that the oil slick could reach anywhere along the coast. Containers from the vessel were seen drifting in the sea at a speed of 3kph, the Indian Express reported. @IndiaCoastGuard#MRCC, #Mumbai received a Distress Alert regarding Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 developing 26° list approx 38 nautical miles southwest of #Kochi. Vessel departed #Vizhinjam Port on 23 May 25, bound for #Kochi with ETA 24 May 25. #ICG is actively… An unnamed defense spokesperson in Kochi quoted by the newspaper said that efforts are being made to mitigate the oil spill, with a coast guard ship and an aerial assessment of the situation being conducted. Besides the oil in the fallen containers, 'marine fuel used in the ship has also leaked,' the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement, following a high-level meeting on Sunday. According to simulation results from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), cited by The Hindu newspaper, there is a 45% probability that many of the 640 containers from the sunken container ship are likely to drift towards the coastal stretch of Kerala within the next 48 hours. As a precautionary measure, the government has prohibited fishing in a 20-nautical-mile radius around the sunken ship, in addition to an existing ban on fishing due to heavy rain. Officials have also activated the Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) to aid in the location of containers or other drifting objects.
