Ship Carrying Hazardous Cargo Capsizes Off Kerala Coast, State on High Alert

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker ship carrying oil and dangerous substances capsized off Kochi, Kerala state in southern India, posing a large environmental and safety hazard. The vessel, MSC ELSA 3, began to tilt and submerged early Sunday in the Arabian Sea due to flooding in one of its compartments. All 24 crew members were rescued from the ship by a co-ordinated Indian Navy operation but the accident has raised a high-level environmental alert on the Kerala coast.

The vessel transported 640 containers, of which 13 are filled with hazardous chemicals and 12 are filled with calcium carbide, a chemical that, upon contact with seawater, gives off a flammable gas. Besides the above, the oil tanks of the vessel had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. The authorities are worried about the danger of the spillage of the oil and leakage of the toxic chemicals into the Arabian Sea, posing danger to marine life and the safety of coastal residents.

The surrounding coastal region of Kochi is a tourist haven and a hotspot for biodiversity, further increasing the impact of the spill. Several of the containers have been seen breaking off from the vessel and moving in the direction of the shore, leading to precautionary evacuations in the sensitive zone. Citizens are advised not to touch any containers or oil that manage to reach the beaches. Fishermen have also been advised to avoid the area of the sunken ship because of the hazardous situation.

Following the spill, Kerala's government has increased efforts to contain pollution. The Indian Coast Guard has dispatched a vessel carrying pollution containment and cleanup gear to the area. Besides this, an airplane with an oil spill detection system has been making overflights to track the extent of the spill and aid in response. The plan is to enclose and contain the environmental impact as quickly as possible.

The spill points to continuing hazards of ocean transport of toxic substances along environmentally sensitive and populated coastlines. While immediate rescue efforts on the crew were successful, there could be residual environmental impacts in case of an ineffective containment of the spill. The authorities continue to keep a close watch on the situation, organizing cleaning operations and assessing the marine ecosystem and community impacts.

The capsize of MSC ELSA 3 also brings to the fore the vulnerabilities of shipping vessels that suffer from structural or mechanical defects while sailing. Water had flooded a compartment and made the vessel lose balance and sink before it reached port. Probing into why water had flooded in the first place and indeed the very conditions surrounding the accident are to follow once the immediate environmental risks have been resolved.

As the pollution control is ongoing, officials emphasize the need for awareness among coastal dwellers and seafarers. The preventive measures, such as evacuation warnings and bans on entry into areas with possibly polluted water or trash, aim at safeguarding the public and averting further environmental harm.

Source:
BBC News report by Cherylann Mollan, Mumbai, May 26, 2025.