Coastal areas put on alert as a container ship carrying hazardous cargo capsizes

By Admin

26 May, 2025

Massive Maritime Incident Raises Environmental Concerns

A significant maritime incident off the coast of Kochi has sparked concern across India’s coastal authorities and environmental agencies. The Liberian-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3, which began tilting 38 nautical miles off Kochi on Saturday, has now completely capsized, posing a serious threat of oil spill and chemical hazards. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide—a chemical that becomes highly flammable when it reacts with water.

Crew Rescued, But Risk Persists

The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy responded swiftly, successfully rescuing all 24 crew members—21 by the Coast Guard and 3 by Navy ship Sujata—after the vessel rapidly sank in the early hours of Sunday due to flooding in one of the holds. While there was no human casualty, the focus now shifts to environmental containment and disaster mitigation.

Oil Spill and Hazardous Cargo Threat

The ship had onboard 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, both of which pose a significant risk if spilled into the ocean. In anticipation of this, the Indian Coast Guard has activated its comprehensive pollution response plan, working closely with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority and other agencies to prepare for all eventualities.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a public warning, urging people to stay away from unfamiliar or drifting objects along the coastline. Given the materials involved—particularly calcium carbide, which can emit flammable gas upon contact with water—any such objects could be dangerous.

Coastal Drift and Regional Alerts

Authorities have warned that the containers could begin drifting toward the shores of Ernakulam and Alappuzha, with an approximate drift speed of 1 km per hour. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is actively monitoring the trajectory and has implemented its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) to help identify the movement of the drifting containers.

INCOIS has also deployed ‘oil spill trajectory advisory’ simulations to model the potential spread and movement of any oil discharge, assisting in mitigation and clean-up planning.

‘Saksham’ and Dornier Aircraft Deployed

To tackle the emerging oil spill, the Coast Guard ship Saksham is currently engaged in response operations. A Coast Guard Dornier aircraft has also been deployed in Pollution Response (PR) configuration, using advanced methods like the co-polarisation ratio (PR) to detect and measure the extent of the oil-water mixture at the spill site.

Preparedness and Vigilance Are Key

This unfolding situation highlights the critical importance of marine environmental safety, disaster preparedness, and inter-agency coordination. As efforts to contain the damage continue, coastal communities and fishermen are urged to remain vigilant and report any sightings of drifting containers or oil traces.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the environmental vulnerability of maritime trade routes, especially when hazardous materials are involved. The response over the coming days will be crucial in minimizing the long-term impact on marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.