Kerala: Containers from sunken Liberian ship wash ashore, triggering fresh concerns

The Kerala coastline is witnessing a concerning development as multiple cargo containers from the sunken vessel MSC Elsa 3 have started washing ashore. The ship had sunk approximately 14.6 nautical miles off the Thottappally coast, leading to the loss of several containers into the sea.

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A high-level emergency meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary A Jayathilak, was convened to coordinate a multi-agency response to the incident. High alerts were issued across coastal districts, including Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Concern over contents

The drifting containers began appearing on beaches in the Kollam and Alappuzha districts, including Neendakara, Cheriya and Alappad. Some containers were found open and empty, while others remained sealed, raising concerns about their contents. In response, local authorities, including the police and disaster management teams, cordoned off the affected areas and advised residents to maintain a safe distance.

Customs authorities have taken custody of the containers that have come ashore. Out of the 643 containers aboard the MSC Elsa 3, 73 were reportedly empty, while 13 contained hazardous materials such as calcium carbide. The contents of the remaining containers are yet to be disclosed. Customs officials have deployed marine and preventive units along the Kerala coast to monitor and manage the situation.

The public has been strongly advised not to approach or attempt to open any containers found along the shore. Fishing activities within a 20-nautical mile radius of the shipwreck site have been suspended due to safety and environmental concerns. Rapid Response Teams equipped with heavy machinery have been mobilized to recover the containers safely.

Coordinated response

The incident has raised significant environmental and safety concerns, prompting a coordinated response from various government agencies to mitigate potential risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

Among the gravest environmental concerns arising from the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 is the presence of large quantities of fuel onboard the vessel. According to official reports, the ship was carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.2 metric tonnes of furnace oil meant for power generation. These substances pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems and coastal biodiversity if they leak into the sea.

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Authorities are on high alert to monitor any signs of oil spillage, with the Indian Coast Guard deploying vessels and aerial surveillance to assess the situation. Any leakage of this magnitude could not only disrupt fishing activity and damage marine life but also take a long-term toll on the livelihoods of coastal communities. The state’s disaster management authorities are working in coordination with central agencies to prevent an ecological crisis.