Elsa-3 capsized due to improper container loading, says maritime expert
He highlighted that shippers sometimes under-declare container weights to reduce freight costs, a practice that can have catastrophic consequences. 'If you have a top-heavy load, obviously it's going to create problems and lead to capsizing situations. This is a problem that's not just in Asian countries, it's an international problem. This problem is there in Europe and the US and it's not easy to handle this,' he said.
He highlighted that shippers sometimes under-declare container weights. (Photo: PTI)
Captain Singhal pointed out that while cranes (gantries) can weigh containers as they are loaded, the sheer speed of operations—often a container a minute—makes it difficult to verify every load.advertisement'All this needs to eventually be fully automated, wherein the incorrect calculations, incorrect weight declared in containers is captured right at the time when it's lifted in the gantry so that it sends an alarm and the ship staff knows, but that system doesn't exist today,' he noted.THE ENVIRONMETAL FALLOUTAs for the environmental fallout, Captain Singhal said, 'The vessel has sunk in deep waters. It was carrying calcium carbide and calcium carbide has a reaction with water, but now that the vessel is sunk, so whatever reaction will be there will be deep, but it's likely that it generates some acetylene gas. So even if it does generate, it'll just bubble up over the surface.'He added, 'About six to eight containers have been washed ashore of which a few have landed on the coast and the 13 of them supposedly contain hazardous cargo. Now what is the nature of this hazardous cargo also has different grades. So what the nature of this hazardous cargo is still not known.' Regarding liability and response, Captain Singhal clarified, 'All of this will be handled by the Protection and Indemnity insurance (P&I insurance) provided by a P&I club. The hull and machinery is covered by the marine insurance company, cargo cover for cargo owners. The P&I club covers the open-ended risks which traditional insurers are loath to insure. This includes third-party damage to cargo—environmental damage caused by oil spills and pollution.'advertisement'The nodal agency to coordinate this entire operation will be the Director General of Shipping. The DG Shipping has offices all over the coast and Cochin is the one which will be monitoring closely the entire operations post the incident. It is in India's Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ. To that extent, the government of India has a role in monitoring and calling for an investigation to be conducted by the flag state, Liberia,' he added.The incident underscores the urgent need for stricter oversight and technological upgrades in global shipping to prevent similar disasters in the future.(With inputs from Sandeep Unnithan)
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