Kerala Coast On High Alert Amid Oil Spill Scare After Liberia-Flagged Ship Sinks, Fishermen, Residents Warned

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The Kerala coast has been placed on high alert after eight containers of the Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship, which sank in Kochi on Saturday, May 24, were found at Kollam Coast on Monday, May 26 reported news agency Reuters.

The local coastal authorities have been advised to avoid touching these containers, while fishermen have been asked not to venture tthe sea. Additionally, residents in the Kollam region have been encouraged to shift to safer places.

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In a statement on Sunday, Kerala chief minister office said that the ship has since been“submerged,” without clarifying the cause of the incident, the report said.

“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 Coast Guard rushed to the Kerala coast to manage an oil spill after the vessel leaked fuel into the Arabian Sea, the report said.

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The Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA3 ship was travelling from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it sank nearly 38 nautical miles from Kerala on Saturday, the Coast Guard informed. All 24 crew members had been rescued, it added.

In a post on X, the Coast Guard wrote,“Vessel departed Vizhinjam Port on 23 May 25, bound for Kochi with ETA 24 May 25. ICG (Indian Coast Guard) is actively coordinating rescue operations, with ships in vicinity and aircraft deployed overhead to monitor and assist. Out of 24 crew onboard, 21 have been rescued.”

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The Coast Guard further reflected on rescue measures and stated,“To support evacuation, ICG aircraft have deployed additional life rafts near the listing vessel. DG Shipping, in coordination with ICG, has issued urgent directives to the ship's managers to initiate salvage operations to stabilise the vessel and avert further risks.”

The Indian Coast Guard reported that the vessel was transporting 640 containers, 13 of which contained "hazardous cargo" and 12 had calcium carbide. However, the specific contents of the containers that fell into the sea were not revealed.

Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement, which owns the vessel, has yet to issue a response on the incident.

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