Cargo Ship Mishap Off Kerala Coast, Containers With Hazardous Material Fall Into The Sea
KSDMA warns public not to touch containers possibly carrying marine fuel oils; Coast Guard monitoring spill risk
A Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC Elsa-3 en route from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi, met with a mishap in the Arabian Sea off Keala coast on Saturday.
According to authorities, six to eight containers containing hazardous substances fell off the ship into the sea following the mishap. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a warning to the public after the Coast Guard reported a possible leakage of dangerous substances from the ship in the Arabian Sea.
The ship management informed the Indian authorities at around 1.25 pm on Saturday that one of their ships had developed a dangerous 26-degree tilt and required urgent assistance. The ship was approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi when the mishap occurred. It was expected to arrive at Kochi at 4.30 pm.
The crew members jumped into the sea using lifeboats and life rafts. According to authorities, all 24 crew members were reported safe. The Coast Guard is coordinating the ongoing rescue efforts. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have deployed ships for the rescue operations. Dornier aircraft dropped life rafts near the ship.
The DG Shipping, in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, has issued an urgent directive to the ship's managers to initiate salvage operations for stabilising the vessel and to avert further risks. The Coast Guard is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the crew and to prevent any environmental damage.
The Kerala Disaster Management Authority has warned about the possibility of objects getting washed ashore along the Kerala coast. People have been advised not to touch or examine such objects. The authorities suspect that the containers that fell off the cargo ship contained marine oil and very low-sulphur fuel oil.
A possible oil spill is also feared following the mishap. People residing along the coast have been asked to alert the police if they spot the containers or any other objects near the shore.