Kochi Shipwreck Declared State-Specific Disaster Event

Kochi Shipwreck Declared State-Specific Disaster Event

Why in the News?

The Kerala government declared the Kochi shipwreck a state-specific disaster after MSC Elsa 3, an MSC container vessel, experienced capsizing off the Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea on May 24. This incident poses significant threats of Kerala oil pollution, water pollution, and potential environmental damage to aquatic ecosystems, prompting a coordinated disaster response operation involving multiple agencies, including the Indian Navy and Coast Guard response teams.

Disaster Declaration and Environmental Concerns:

• Kerala declared the May 24 shipwreck a state-specific disaster, recognizing its impact on the marine environment along the Kerala coast.
• Principal Secretary Tinku Biswal highlighted risks of oil spills and debris affecting coastal waters, emphasizing the environmental threat to the region.
• The declaration enables access to funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for pollution response and containment efforts.
• The wreck has raised environmental, economic, and social concerns, potentially affecting fisheries and livelihoods in coastal communities.
• The incident has drawn attention to the history of disasters in India, particularly maritime accidents and their environmental consequences.

Details of the Shipwreck and Response

• MSC Elsa 3, an MSC container vessel en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi, experienced capsizing due to rough seas, potential hull damage, mechanical issues, and cargo imbalance.
• The container vessel had 640 containers, with 12 holding hazardous cargo, posing a significant risk to the marine environment.
• The Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the Indian Navy, executed a swift coast guard response, rescuing 21 crew members.
• 54 containers have washed ashore on the beach in Kollam (43), Thiruvananthapuram (9), and Alappuzha (2), prompting immediate salvage operations.
• INCOIS identified potential tar ball landfall zones, indicating the need for comprehensive pollution response measures.
• The district collector of Ernakulam and the Alappuzha district collector are coordinating local response efforts in their respective areas.

Tamil Nadu Impact and Containment Efforts

• Containers and plastic pellets reached Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu, driven by currents and monsoon winds, extending the environmental threat beyond Kerala.
• A container was found between Kodimunai and Vaniyakudi, highlighting the widespread impact of the shipwreck.
• Marine disaster teams deployed floating booms to prevent oil spread, as part of the oil spill contingency plan.
• Concerns have been raised about potential leaks of marine gas oil and very low-sulphur fuel oil from the vessel’s fuel tanks.

An emergency response ship and a recovery team from Gujarat were dispatched for containment and clean-up operations. The Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the Pollution Control Board Ernakulam office, along with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, are closely monitoring the situation in Ernakulam and other affected districts, working to mitigate the impact on aquatic ecosystems and local fisheries.

The incident has prompted increased scrutiny of maritime safety protocols and contingency planning for similar environmental disasters along the Indian coastline. As salvage operations continue, authorities remain vigilant about potential long-term effects on the marine environment and coastal livelihoods. The Customs Marine and Preventive units have been deployed to assist in the containment efforts and monitor for any illegal salvage attempts.

Experts are particularly concerned about the hazardous cargo onboard, which includes materials like calcium carbide that can produce acetylene gas when in contact with water, potentially exacerbating the environmental damage. The disaster management teams are prepared to handle such chemical hazards, drawing on experience from past incidents such as floods in Kerala.

This maritime disaster serves as a reminder of the need for robust disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, especially in coastal regions prone to various natural and man-made calamities. The coordinated efforts of state and central agencies in addressing this crisis demonstrate India’s evolving capacity to handle complex environmental emergencies.