(INCOIS) “ Coastal zones are at risk of contamination and should be given prompt attention to minimise potential environmental impact.”
The Navy has informed that one km per hour is the approximate speed at which the containers will drift.
A Liberian-flagged container vessel, MSC ELSA 3, which had started tilting 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi on Saturday, has now completely capsized and is at risk of spilling oil, officials said Sunday. All crew members have been rescued.
13 containers carring “hazardous cargo”
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.The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued an alert to the public to keep away from objects that may drift towards the coast.According to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the vessel capsized rapidly in the early hours of Sunday “due to flooding in one of the holds”. (Defence Ministry)According
Statement of the KSDMA
The KSDMA, in a statement, confirmed the receipt of the alert and said there is a high possibility of such goods and oil traces washing up along the Kerala shores in the coming days. The agency has issued strict directions to district administrations, coastal police, and port authorities to sensitise the public about the risks.
Rescue of All Crew
All 24 crew members of Liberian-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 were rescued safely, 21 by Indian Coast Guard and 3 by Indian Navy ship, Sujata, after the vessel sank off Kochi this morning. 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,” the Coast Guard said in a post on X.
Address all possible scenarios
The Indian Coast Guard said it has activated comprehensive pollution response preparedness and is working in close coordination with the state administration to address all possible scenarios. in the context A Defence spokesperson in Kochi said the Navy and the Coast Guard are fighting to contain the oil spill. “On Saturday, 21 of the 24 crew members were rescued, and the remaining three were rescued on Sunday,” the spokesperson said.
Coastal zones are at risk of contamination
While the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, on Sunday said, “Based on hypothetical simulations, the spilled oil pollutant can reach the coastal stretch of Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagappally within 36-48 hours of release. These coastal zones are at risk of contamination and should be given prompt attention to minimise potential environmental impact.”
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People have been told not to go near objects
SDMA member secretary Shekhar Kuriakose said the Chief Secretary has convened a meeting on Sunday to review the situation. “People have been told not to go near objects that are suspected to be from the sunken ship and are washed ashore. They should keep at least 200 metres away from such objects containing dangerous material. The Navy has informed that one km per hour is the approximate speed at which the containers will drift. The coastal regions of Ernakulam and Alappuzha have the highest possibility of getting the containers washed ashore,” he said.
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Support ongoing search and rescue
INCOIS said it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in coordination with relevant authorities, providing vital ocean forecast information and advisory services to support ongoing search, rescue, and environmental response operations.
Aiding mitigation and cleanup
Soon after the tilting of the cargo ship was reported, INCOIS activated its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) to assist in locating containers or drifting objects, it said. Additionally, ‘oil spill trajectory advisory’ simulations were run to forecast the potential spread and movement of any oil discharge, aiding mitigation and cleanup planning, it said.
Source : Indian Express
