The Kerala coast was placed on high alert on Monday after nearly a dozen containers from the Liberian-flagged vessel MSC ELSA 3, which sank in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, drifted ashore between Cheriyazheekal and Sakthikulangara in Kollam district of the state.

The ship, en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi port, capsized approximately 14.6 nautical miles (about 27 km) off the Thottappally coast. Officials estimate around 100 containers may have fallen into the sea, with more expected to wash ashore due to rough seas and prevailing currents.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a public warning urging residents to stay away from the containers. Local police in Kollam and neighbouring Alappuzha districts are closely monitoring the affected coastline. Alappuzha District Collector Alex Varghese told reporters that some containers have been identified as empty, but authorities are proceeding with caution.

“Experts are arriving to examine the contents. Preliminary assessments suggest several containers may be empty, but the public has been advised to stay away,” he said. Some containers are marked with labels such as “Sophi Tex,” leading locals to speculate that they may contain textile materials.

While a few appear to be loaded, others seem empty. Curious onlookers who gathered at the scene were dispersed by police. Fishermen returning to shore on Monday morning reported seeing additional containers floating further out at sea. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed to manage the risk posed by drifting cargo and the potential for an oil spill.

A high-level emergency meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary has directed the Factories and Boilers Department and the Pollution Control Board to lead the RRTs. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), the police, and other key agencies have been instructed to provide full support for ongoing emergency operations. The Kerala government is coordinating with the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Forest Department, and other concerned agencies as recovery and containment efforts continue.

–IANS

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The post Kerala Coast On High Alert As Containers From Sunken Liberian-Flagged Ship Wash Ashore appeared first on The Commune.

In a swift rescue operation, INS Sujata early on Sunday successfully rescued the remaining three crew members of a Liberian-flagged container ship that capsized in the Arabian Sea, approximately 38 nautical miles (about 70 km) off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said in a statement.

The ship, en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi, had been scheduled to arrive by Saturday evening. However, tragedy struck when the vessel began to take in water due to flooding in one of its holds. The flooding caused the vessel to rapidly capsize in the early hours of May 25, prompting an emergency response.

“In the early hours of May 25, the vessel capsized rapidly reportedly due to flooding in one of the holds. Three crew remaining onboard the abandoned ship and were rescued by INS Sujata, which joined operations last evening,” the ICG said. According to the statement, all crew members are now safe.

The ICG has launched an assessment of the incident and is issuing advisories to state authorities to manage any environmental impact or hazards. The incident unfolded after the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a warning on Saturday, alerting about a potential spill of hazardous material into the sea.

The ICG confirmed the ship, which was carrying marine gas oil and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), had lost around 10 containers into the sea during the capsizing. These containers reportedly included oil substances critical for maritime operations. VLSFO, a fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5 per cent by mass, is essential for compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 emissions regulations, aimed at reducing sulphur pollution in international waters.

Earlier on Saturday, 21 out of the 24 crew members were rescued after the ship began listing. The three remaining onboard — the Captain, Chief Engineer, and Second Engineer — had initially stayed behind but were later forced to abandon the sinking vessel. The ship was nearing its destination at the Cochin Port when the emergency occurred. The ICG and other relevant agencies are closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to prevent any further environmental fallout from the spill. Further updates on the investigation and clean-up operations are expected.

–IANS

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The post All Crew Members Rescued After Liberian Ship Capsizes Off Kerala Coast appeared first on The Commune.