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Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt gives 48-hour ultimatum to MSC Shipmanagement to begin oil extraction from MSC ELSA 3
MUMBAI: The government has given a 48-hour ultimatum to MSC Shipmanagement Ltd to start work on extraction of oil from the sunken ship MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kerala or face legal consequences for 'continued inaction and delay representing not only negligence but also a violation of statutory obligations' in the backdrop of imminent environmental and economic threat posed to the Indian coastline and its coastal communities. The oil extraction work was slated to start around June 5 but has not even begun, the Director General of Shipping, Shyam Jagannathan, wrote in a June 11 notice issued to MSC Shipmanagement, the Cyprus-based ship management unit of Mediterranean Shipping Company, S.A., the world's biggest container shipping line and the operator of MSC ELSA 3. Voicing increasing concern on the progress made in salvage and emergency response operations of the sunken container ship, the D G Shipping said that it was 'grossly inadequate and continues to fall short of the timelines and operational commitments previously provided by the salvors (T&T Salvage) and the owner of the ship'. Despite repeated instructions and coordination meetings, the response from the salvors has been 'consistently delayed and insufficient', the country's maritime regulator said. 'The lack of prompt action has resulted in a continued and serious risk to the marine environment and coastline of India, particularly affecting the coastal regions of Kerala. The region's local communities, which heavily rely on fishing for their livelihoods, have already suffered extensive loss of work and income due to the prolonged presence of the sunken vessel, floating debris, oil sheen, and ongoing pollution risk,' Jagannathan wrote in the notice. The ship was carrying 367.1 metric tonnes of very low sulphur fuel oil and 84.4 metric tonnes of diesel in its tanks when it capsized and sank on May 25. Recalling that salvors were clearly advised to mobilise necessary assets required for diving and oil recovery operations as early as the first day of the incident, the D G Shipping noted that the Diving Support Vessel (DSV) and necessary diving assets were not mobilised until after May 30. 'This initial delay set back the entire timeline for the operation. Even the tug assets hired by the owners arrived on scene only after June 1, with no prior deployment initiated by the salvors,' he told MSC Shipmanagement. While it was abundantly clear considering the depth of the water (51 meters) that saturation diving was required for the extraction of oil from the vessel, the salvors have, to date, been able to conduct only limited air diving operations, which are inadequate for the extraction of oil from the tanks of the sunken vessel. 'The timeline provided for these operations has been grossly violated. Capping of vents, which was scheduled for completion earlier this month, is still being conducted at present. The extraction of oil, originally scheduled to commence around June 5, 2025, has not even begun as of this date,' Jagannathan pointed out. The delay, Jagannathan wrote, is 'even more unacceptable' considering that the western coast of India, including Kerala, is entering its monsoon season - a period during which offshore salvage operations become highly unsafe or entirely unfeasible due to harsh weather conditions. 'The salvage operation was provided a short weather window to conduct these critical activities, and that window has now largely been lost as a direct consequence of the salvors' failure to timely deploy assets and personnel,' he said. The salvors had committed to arrange expert saturation divers and a team for the specialised equipment from 11 countries. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), to assist the salvors, had written directly to the Indian Embassies and High Commissions in these countries to expedite visa clearances. 'Yet, it has come to light that several visa applications were not even filed by the salvors, resulting in continued non-availability of the saturation divers even at this stage,' the D G Shipping stated. 'This consistent inaction and delay represent not only negligence but also a violation of statutory obligations. Should the extraction of oil not commence within the next 48 hours, the government of India shall be left with no alternative but examine all avenues against the shipowners and salvors under applicable Indian legislation for the continuing threat posed to Indian waters and the coastal environment,' the D G Shipping told MSC Shipmanagement. 'Your actions (or lack thereof) may attract prosecution and penalties under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958; Environment (Protection) Act 1986; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Disaster Management Act, 2005, and any other applicable provisions under Indian maritime safety, environmental protection, and disaster management laws,' Jagannathan wrote in the notice. 'Any further delay beyond the specified period will be treated as wilful and deliberate noncompliance, and the government shall proceed to exercise its full legal rights and remedies without further reference,' he added.
News18
30-05-2025
- General
- News18
Is Kerala's Seafood Still Safe? What We Know After Cargo Vessel Sinks Off Coast
Last Updated: The MSC ELSA 3 was carrying 13 hazardous containers, 12 containers of calcium carbide, 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. The sinking of the Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, on May 25 has raised alarms among local residents. The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 holding hazardous cargo. While authorities have assured that no spill has been reported so far, growing concerns linger over the potential threat to marine life and the seafood supply that sustains many in the region. The state government has declared the incident a state-specific disaster after taking into account the potentially serious environmental, social and economic impact, the Hindu reported. As concerns grow, here's a quick explainer on what happened, how authorities are responding, and whether any impact has been observed on seafood in the region. What Happened To The MSC ELSA 3? The 28-year-old vessel was en route to Kochi from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram when it capsized approximately 25 km southwest of Alappuzha on May 25. All 24 crew members onboard were safely rescued. The ship is owned by Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement. The Indian Coast Guard's 'swift action" helped avoid a major oil spill from the capsized container ship, officials of the Directorate General of Shipping stated on Wednesday. What Was Onboard The MSC ELSA 3? Apart from 13 hazardous containers, the ship was carrying 12 containers of calcium carbide, 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. Officials have ruled out a major spill. However, Dr T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, the director of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), confirmed that there were traces of oil along the Alappuzha coast, Indian Express reported. Nair stated that authorities did not expect 'a massive oil slick" since most of the fuel was contained. Earlier, a simulation by the agency indicated that if all the diesel and furnace oil from the ship were to leak into the sea, there was a high possibility that it would drift towards the Kerala coast. Clean Up Process The authorities have deployed clean-up vessels. Aerial surveillance is being conducted to track the spread of pollutants alongside the coast. A total of 108 personnel have been tasked with container recovery and cleanup onshore. The top priorities for the authorities include recovering the oil, removing containers that have washed up on beaches and retrieving the containers adrift at sea. They have set a deadline of July 3 for completing the oil recovery efforts. Is It Safe To Consume Seafood In The Region? As of right now, authorities have advised people that there is no reason to panic. The State Fisheries Department and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) are actively monitoring the situation for any signs of contamination. Regular water sampling is underway, and authorities are closely tracking any signs of contamination. State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian told the Indian Express, 'Nothing hazardous has so far landed along the coast and fish can be consumed without fear." CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George explained to Mathrubhumi News that there was no reason to avoid eating seafood presently, as fishing is currently banned in the immediate vicinity of the wreck. This means that fish from the affected area are not being sold in the market. He added that a clearer picture of the impact will emerge soon as analysis is underway.
CNA
26-05-2025
- General
- CNA
India's Kerala state on high alert as vessel with hazardous cargo sinks off its coast
KOCHI: Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday (May 26) after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was travelling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been "submerged", the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. "The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick," the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with "hazardous cargo" and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. All 24 crew members on board were rescued, with the Indian coast guard and a navy patrol boat collecting the sailors, who were from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines. Calcium carbide is used in the chemical industry, including for fertiliser production and steelmaking. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers - some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday - and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
Arab News
26-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
India rushes to contain oil spill as vessel sinks off Kerala coast
KOCHI/BENGALURU: Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was traveling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been 'submerged,' the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. 'The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick,' the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with 'hazardous cargo' and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers — some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday — and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
Reuters
26-05-2025
- General
- Reuters
India rushes to contain oil spill as vessel sinks off Kerala coast
KOCHI/ BENGALURU, May 26 (Reuters) - Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala were scrambling to contain an oil spill on Monday after a container vessel sank, leaking fuel into the Arabian Sea and releasing 100 cargo containers into the water. The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was travelling from Vizhinjam on India's southern tip to Kochi when it capsized about 38 nautical miles off Kerala on Saturday, officials said, adding that all 24 crew members had been rescued. The entire ship has since been "submerged", the Kerala chief minister's office said in a statement on Sunday without elaborating on the cause of the incident. "The Coast Guard is taking steps to block the oil with two ships. A Dornier aircraft is also being used to spray oil-destroying powder on the oil slick," the statement said. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with "hazardous cargo" and 12 with calcium carbide, the Indian coast guard said, without disclosing the contents of the containers that fell into the sea. Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kerala coast has been put on high alert, with local coastal bodies instructed not to touch or go near the containers - some of which began washing up on beaches on Monday - and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. Authorities in the state's Kollam region have encouraged people living nearby to move to safer places. Accidental oil spills in the ocean can have far-reaching effects, putting marine ecosystems to the local fishing industry at risk. The collision of a BW LPG vessel and a local ship carrying heavy fuel oil caused a similar oil spill in 2017 near the southern city of Chennai, which harmed aquatic life and affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.
