Kerala's wake-up call and a global crisis unfolding
The recent spill off Kerala's coast offers a sobering illustration of how such incidents are not isolated anomalies but symptomatic of a broader, systemic crisis—one that is both local in its impact and global in its implications.
A local disaster, a global symptom
In late May 2025, the MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged container ship, capsized and sank off the coast of Alappuzha. What followed was a catastrophic oil spill that released more than 450 tonnes of furnace oil, diesel, and hazardous cargo—including plastic nurdles—into the Arabian Sea. The disaster has wreaked havoc on Kerala's coastal ecosystems, severely impacted the livelihoods of fishing communities, and exposed significant gaps in maritime disaster preparedness.
The environmental footprint is enormous: thick furnace oil now stains Kerala's once-pristine beaches, nurdles are washing up on shores from Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam, and fragile estuaries and backwaters face long-term contamination. For the fishing communities dependent on these waters, the consequences are not just ecological—they are existential.
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New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala's wake-up call and a global crisis unfolding
The world's oceans—critical conduits of global commerce, reservoirs of marine biodiversity, and regulators of Earth's climate—are confronting threats of unprecedented scale and complexity. While overfishing, plastic pollution, and ocean warming have long dominated environmental discourse, oil spills remain one of the most acute and underappreciated forms of marine degradation. The recent spill off Kerala's coast offers a sobering illustration of how such incidents are not isolated anomalies but symptomatic of a broader, systemic crisis—one that is both local in its impact and global in its implications. A local disaster, a global symptom In late May 2025, the MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged container ship, capsized and sank off the coast of Alappuzha. What followed was a catastrophic oil spill that released more than 450 tonnes of furnace oil, diesel, and hazardous cargo—including plastic nurdles—into the Arabian Sea. The disaster has wreaked havoc on Kerala's coastal ecosystems, severely impacted the livelihoods of fishing communities, and exposed significant gaps in maritime disaster preparedness. The environmental footprint is enormous: thick furnace oil now stains Kerala's once-pristine beaches, nurdles are washing up on shores from Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam, and fragile estuaries and backwaters face long-term contamination. For the fishing communities dependent on these waters, the consequences are not just ecological—they are existential.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Plastic pellets, untreated sewage pose threat at Papanasam beach in Varkala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the annual 'Vavu Bali' ritual just days away, pollution at the Papanasam beach in Varkala has sparked serious concern among devotees and the Janardhana Swamy Temple authorities. Nurdles (tiny plastic pellets) from the MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck and unchecked sewage discharge from nearby hotels and resorts continue to pollute the beach, posing a health hazard and creating severe inconvenience for tourists and pilgrims. The temple authorities, who oversee the ritual arrangements, have expressed their worry over the unhygienic conditions of the beach. 'The stench from the polluted water and the plastic nurdles washing ashore have made it difficult for devotees arriving to offer bali,' said a temple official. 'We hope the authorities will act swiftly to clean up the area before the Vavu Bali on July 24,' the official added. Local residents say that none of the authorities, including the Dewaswom Board, Varkala municipality, and district administration, are taking up the responsibility to address the pollution issues at the beach frequented by thousands every day. Hospital ward councillor K Anil Kumar echoed the concerns, stating that the beach is in no condition to host a major spiritual event. 'The restaurants and resorts on the cliff continue to discharge raw sewage directly into the water. No serious cleanup was undertaken last year either, despite the large turnout of devotees. The dispute between departments on who is responsible for cleaning up the beach every year has worsened the situation,' he said. Meanwhile, Papanasam ward councillor P Ajayakumar maintained that daily cleaning efforts are underway. 'Fire department personnel and volunteers have been consistently removing plastic nurdles from the shore. We will intensify the cleanup and make all necessary arrangements to ensure that the ritual is conducted smoothly,' he said.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business Standard
Indian Coast Guard rescues 2 US nationals stranded near Nicobar Islands
ICG Ship Rajveer carried out the rescue operation after the US consulate in Chennai sent a distress message about the stranded US-flagged sailing vessel ANI General News The Indian Coast Guard rescued two United States nationals stranded about 53 miles south of the Nicobar Islands, officials said on Friday. ICG Ship Rajveer carried out the rescue operation after the US consulate in Chennai sent a distress message about the stranded US-flagged sailing vessel. The Indian patrol vessel navigated through rough sea conditions to rescue the US nationals. "The Indian Coast Guard saved two US nationals stranded in a distressed yacht, a US-flagged sailing vessel, Sea Angel, about 53 miles south of the Nicobar Islands. On receipt of a distress message via the US Consulate at Chennai, ICG Ship Rajveer was deployed & responded to the distress situation, navigating through rough sea conditions," ICG said. Last Month, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued three Sri Lankan nationals who had been abandoned on a sandbar near Adam's Bridge, off the coast of Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu. According to the Coastal Security Group Police, the trio had set off from Sri Lanka in an unidentified boat, which dropped them off on the sandbar located in Indian waters. "Three Sri Lankans who had set off from Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi (Tamil Nadu) in an unidentified boat were dropped off at a sandbar by Adam's Bridge near Dhanushkodi. The Indian Coast Guard rescued them, brought them to Dhanushkodi and handed them over to the Coastal Security Group Police. An investigation is underway," said the Coastal Security Group Police in a statement. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
