A maritime incident off the coast of Alappuzha has triggered environmental and safety concerns after multiple containers from the capsized feeder ship MSC ELSA III washed up on the shores of Kollam.
As of Monday morning, nine containers have been found along the Kollam coast, with authorities warning that more may still drift ashore. The ship, which was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi carrying over 640 containers, capsized on Saturday in rough seas.
While all recovered containers so far have been empty, officials are on high alert due to the vessel’s dangerous cargo, which included 12 containers holding calcium carbide and other hazardous materials, as well as 367.1 metric tons of furnace oil and 84.44 metric tons of diesel onboard.
Emergency Measures in Place
The Kerala State Government has deployed two Pollution Control Board fast response teams to the coastline to monitor and manage any potential oil spill. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened an emergency meeting on Sunday and urged coastal residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
Fishermen have also been warned to avoid venturing within 20 nautical miles of the wreck site, citing ongoing safety risks.
The Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, and Port Authority have been mobilised to assist with containment and surveillance operations. No oil leakage has been detected so far, but the Coast Guard has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the area using advanced oil-spill detection systems.
Hazardous Materials and Monsoon Threat
The vessel’s cargo list and onboard fuel have raised significant environmental concerns. Calcium carbide, in particular, can pose severe health and safety hazards if exposed to moisture, as it generates acetylene gas, which is both flammable and explosive.
According to maritime experts, the risk of additional containers breaking loose remains high, especially given the seasonal monsoon currents and water pressure that could compromise container lashings. Salvage operations have reportedly been assigned to a team of professionals, but the actual recovery process is expected to begin only after the monsoon subsides.
Public Safety Advisory
The State Disaster Management Authority has issued a strong advisory urging the public not to touch or approach any floating containers or objects. Local authorities have cordoned off sections of the shoreline and are patrolling affected areas to prevent public exposure to hazardous materials.
Ongoing Investigation
Shipping officials have launched an investigation into the incident, including an assessment of whether the vessel was adequately secured and whether protocols were followed in transporting hazardous substances.
The MSC ELSA III was a feeder ship operating on coastal routes, and questions are being raised about maritime safety standards and emergency preparedness for such cargo carriers in Indian waters.
As the situation unfolds, state and central agencies remain on high alert to prevent an environmental disaster.
