Latest news with #SekharKuriakose
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Smouldering Wan Hai 503 still adrift without a port of refuge
Nearly a month after the Singapore-flagged vessel Wan Hai 503 caught fire off the coast of Kerala, the vessel continues to be adrift, emitting fire and smoke and weathering stormy weather and rain in the Arabian Sea. Though the vessel is adrift approximately 130 nautical miles off the Indian coastline, outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary, the vessel continues to remain on a high-density shipping corridor, necessitating continuous traffic warnings to passing vessels. Plan not submitted An assessment conducted by the salvage team (T&T Salvage) stressed the need for a port of refuge, as removing fuel from the vessel offshore still remains unsafe. However, the owner and salvors of the ship are yet to submit a detailed plan to the Indian authorities for fuel transfer and moving the vessel to a port of refuge. If there's a delay in the salvage operation, the vessel has to be towed further south of its current position, around 200 nautical miles away from the Indian coast, according to the report of the Directorate General of Shipping. It is also necessary that the onboard fire has to be fully contained before it reaches the port of refuge. As per the latest report, the temperature on the left and right of the vessel was 64°C and 68°C, respectively. Speaking to The Hindu, a senior shipping crew said the weather in the Arabian Sea is the major hindrance to the containment of fire and smoke. The squally weather with wind, occasionally gusting to 100 km/hour, adds fuel to the fire. Further, it is not possible to apply fire extinguisher from the top of the ship since choppers can carry only a limited quantity. A good number of containers have undeclared cargo, which adds to the woes of the firefighters, he said. 'The best option' Once fire spreads to petrochemical products, it is difficult to contain it, said Sekhar Kuriakose, member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. The monsoon rain will not help contain the fire. 'The best option is to find a port of refuge at the earliest before the hull disintegrates. Considering the current position of the ship, navigating it to the coast of Africa would be ideal,' said Mr. Kuriakose. It was on June 9 that the Singapore-flagged vessel witnessed container explosions causing a significant onboard fire, around 44 nautical miles from Azhikkal. The entire vessel was engulfed by the fire.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Wayanad: Heavy rain causes river swell in 2024 landslide-hit areas, sparks panic
Wayanad: Intense rain lashed Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas in the district, which were devastated by a landslide in July 2024, causing the Punnapuzha river to swell on Wednesday. The torrential flow of muddy water in the river raised fears of a fresh landslide, but officials later confirmed that no such event occurred. According to the district disaster management authority, the heavy rain that began on Tuesday night led to a minor mud slip in the area where the 2024 landslide happened. From around 9.30 am, the river began rising sharply, with strong currents reaching just below the Bailey bridge constructed after last year's disaster. The gushing waters breached the Attamala road and also submerged parts of the road to Punchirimattam. However, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) as well as Wayanad district collector M R Meghasree said there was no fresh landslide. "The officials examined all the way up to Punchirimattom and there is no new landslide there. It is the existing debris that has now come down. It is natural and it is something that we should be prepared for," the collector said. Officials from the forest and revenue departments, who surveyed the area, also found that portions of soil from the elevated slopes near the Vanarani estate had eroded. The collector said access to the affected areas had been restricted until the rains subsided. Livelihood assistance to people will be decided after discussions with the govt, she added. KSDMA member secretary Sekhar Kuriakose said the erosion of the loose debris from the 2024 landslide would continue for some time. "The eroded materials need to completely wash off. The river and its immediate buffer of no-go zone is well marked, also considering the possibility of eroded materials coming down," he said. C K Vishnudas, director of the Hume Centre of Ecology that has been monitoring rainfall in Wayanad on a daily basis, said Mundakkai and nearby areas received 70 mm of rainfall till noon on Wednesday, which likely contributed to the river's surge. With residents saying that they heard a large sound from Mundakkai hills, panic set in. Fire and rescue services, police and revenue officials reached the scene, and around 150 plantation workers of Harrisons Malayalam Estate and other estates, who were working in the area, were quickly evacuated in tractors, trucks and other vehicles. The tribal families of Erattukundu colony were also relocated. Part of the soil and other debris, which were stored along the riverbanks as part of desilting the river under a Rs 195-crore project, were also washed away in the heavy rain. Following the landslide on July 30, 2024, 5.7 million cu m of debris flowed across 8 km along the Punnapuzha river, altering its course. Meanwhile, protesting residents blocked revenue officials, including the village officer, tahsildar and ADM, saying that their safety was at stake and demanding that they should be provided a daily allowance promised for landslide-hit families. The IMD has issued an orange alert for the district on Thursday. The collector has declared a holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges and residential institutions. Entry to all tourist spots in vulnerable areas has been prohibited.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Towline connected to ship on fire, chance for BLEVE explosion
Two days after the ship MV Wan Hai 503 caught fire off the coast of Kerala between the Beypore and Azhikkal ports on Monday, the Indian Coast Guard and the MERC Salvage Master—a Marine Emergency Response Centre and a subsidiary of Vishwakarma of Gujarat—could connect a towline to the burning ship, a significant achievement considering the effort different agencies made in the past two days. The MERC men landed on the ship in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) helicopter by Wednesday afternoon. According to sources, the initial plan was to tow the ship to a safer region in the central Arabian Sea away from the coastline of different geographical regions surrounding the sea and from the international shipping channel. The team had also toyed with the idea of bringing the ship to New Mangalore Port if the fire was contained. However, the fire, which was brought under control last night in the forward bay with approximately 40% of the blaze suppressed, was still raging on Thursday, and the vessel was afloat, emitting thick smoke. Fallen containers Sekhar Kuriakose, member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, told The Hindu that as per the warning of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the fallen containers of the ship may drift towards the coastal stretch between Kozhikode and Thrissur in Kerala and parts of south Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the next couple of days. There would be slight changes in the landing of containers as the ship was still adrift in the sea, changing its location from the earlier forecast location. Meanwhile, the authorities have been keenly watching the developments in the ship, as there are chances for a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) explosion. As the fire is raging near the fuel tank of the ship, the liquid fuel may evaporate, and the vapour, which is more dangerous especially due to the high temperature present, could lead to a catastrophic explosion. However, no structural compromise to the ship has been reported other than it listing on one side by around 15% on Wednesday night. The vessel drifting in the south-southeasterly direction at approximately 1 knot has approximately 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel oil in tanks located adjacent to the fire zone. The drifting containers also remain a concern for the authorities though the vessel is drifting away from the Indian coast. Firefighting specialists Meanwhile, international firefighting specialists from Spain, the U.K., and the Netherlands identified by the salvors will be deployed for the firefighting operation subject to visa clearance within the next 72 hours, according to a situation report released by government agencies. Firefighting and boundary cooling operations, led by the ICG, Indian Navy, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), and ship salvage partners are going on in the forward bays where the fire originated. 65 nautical miles off coast As per the last update, the vessel is located about 65 nautical miles off the Indian coastline, beyond the 1,000-metre depth contour. As per the owners, the ship was carrying a total of 1,754 containers onboard, with 1,083 containers under deck and 671 containers on deck, out of which 143 were carrying highly dangerous cargo. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has sent a team to support the Indian authorities in the rescue and investigation efforts. The adverse weather conditions have slowed down the operations of the Indian Navy and the ICG. Of the 22 crew members onboard, 18 were rescued by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. However, four crew members—two from Taiwan, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar—remain missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, supported by multiple Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels and aircraft. Of the five injured members of the crew undergoing treatment in Mangaluru, a Chinese national has been discharged, while two others are still in the intensive care unit. High alert Meanwhile, the Kerala government has issued a high alert in its coastal areas and advised fishermen not to venture near the site. Water samples and sediments are being collected from coastal waters and tested to assess any environmental impact. (With inputs from Kozhikode bureau)
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Oil spill scare off Kerala: Day after cargo ship capsized, 30 containers wash up ashore
A day after the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, capsized off the Kerala coast, 30 containers washed ashore on Monday. However, no oil spill has reached the shore as of Monday evening. A defence spokesperson in Kochi said three Coast Guard vessels, Vikram, Saksham and Samarth, have been deployed in a pollution response configuration in the area where the ship capsized. These vessels utilised infrared cameras to detect the oil spill area and utilised oil spill dispersant to contain the spread of oil, officials said. Besides, a Dornier aircraft equipped with specialised gear has been positioned in Kochi to undertake aerial assessments of the oil spill situation. A dedicated pollution control vessel, Samudra Prahari, is being mobilised from Mumbai to further augment oil spill response efforts. In the coastal regions of Kerala's Alappuzha and Kollam districts, 30 of the containers that detached from the capsized ship washed ashore on Monday. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority member secretary Sekhar Kuriakose said, 'These containers did not contain anything harmful. More containers may wash ashore in the coming days. We have warned the people not to go near the containers. Customs, as well as the representatives of the shipping firm, will be handling the containers.' The Coast Guard had earlier said that the ship, which had 640 containers, was carrying 13 containers with 'hazardous cargo' and 12 with calcium carbide. It also said the ship had '84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks'. Kuriakose said the state government has asked the Factories and Boilers Department to make ready two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) each in southern and central Kerala districts, and one each in the northern districts. Besides, in the event of oil slick reaching the shore, the State Pollution Control Board was directed to make ready two RRTs each in the southern and central coastal districts and one each in the northern districts. Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) will soon launch a field study on the fallout of the emerging scenario on marine ecosystems. CMFRI director Dr Grinson George said the institute is closely monitoring the situation following reports of a possible oil spill in the Arabian Sea. The ecological and economic impact will depend on the scale of the leakage. Oil smothering could threaten sensitive marine species and disrupt fishing activities, particularly affecting artisanal fishers in coastal regions. If the spill spreads, it may harm marine productivity, especially during the monsoon — a critical period for pelagic fish breeding and growth, he said, adding that this could have long-term consequences for fisheries. The monsoon season typically supports high marine productivity, and a strong fishing season was anticipated. The scale of the impact is dependent on the amount of leakage and how it can be contained, he said.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Kerala govt. sounds high alert along coastline following oil spill, threat of chemical leakage from capsized ship
The spectre of possible leakage of hazardous chemicals loomed large in Kerala, with at least nine containers from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, MSC Elsa 3, washing up on the beaches of Kollam and Alappuzha districts early Monday. A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan issued a high alert along the State's coastline. It also flagged environmental concerns from an oil spill from the sunken vessel. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Dornier Aircraft flew several sorties over the shipwreck site and sprayed dispersants to accelerate the biodegradation of the oil slicks. The government has classified the accident as a Tier 2 maritime event. It is in close coordination with the ICG director general, who heads the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan, to mitigate the environmental hazard. Calcium carbide The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the vessel had 643 transhipment containers secured on the main deck. The cargo hold contained 13 containers transporting calcium carbide. The hazardous chemical causes an exothermic reaction, producing highly flammable calcium hydroxide and acetylene gas when it reacts with water. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) has informed the government that more containers will likely wash up on the beaches of Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts. The government has urged the public to report the sighting of containers by dialling the emergency number 112. The government stated that local people found four containers beached near Shakthikulangara Harbour and Chavara in the Kollam district. They also reported containers run ashore at Cheriaazheekal and Thrikunnipuzha beaches in Alappuzha district. The government has advised extreme caution and cordoned off the coastal localities, as some containers may contain hazardous and flammable materials. Sekhar Kuriakose, member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), advised the public to maintain a minimum distance of 200 m from the beached containers. Ban on fishing near site The government stated that more containers were floating in the sea, posing a grave threat to passing ships and smaller vessels, including fishing boats. The government has banned fishing activities within a 20-nautical mile radius of the shipwreck location. The ICG and maritime authorities have issued notices to mariners, advising them to exercise caution when navigating the shipwreck location. Salvaging containers The shipping company has contracted a private firm to assist authorities in corralling the floating containers and salvaging those stowed away in the submerged vessel's cargo hold. The container ship, which had set course for Kochi from Vizhinjam, foundered after encountering rough weather 38 km southwest of its port of call early Sunday. A perilous combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure and perhaps unbalanced cargo reportedly caused the ship to list heavily before capsizing and sinking. The Coast Guard rescued the ship's crew, comprising up to 21 individuals from various nationalities, including Russia and the Philippines.
