Kerala agencies on high alert as hazardous containers threaten coast after MSC ELSA 3 spill

The sinking of the Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off Kerala's Kochi coast has raised significant environmental and safety concerns. The ship, carrying 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil, along with 13 containers of hazardous cargo including calcium carbide, spilled its contents across a 2x1 nautical mile area in the Arabian Sea.

Authorities have issued a high alert as over 100 containers, some breaking apart, float in the sea, threatening the coastal ecosystem. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed the ship Saksham equipped with pollution control gear and an ICG Dornier aircraft to spray Oil Spill Dispersant and conduct aerial assessments.

Kerala's Pollution Control Board (PCB) currently lacks a finalized oil spill contingency plan, a critical gap given that 9 out of 14 districts in Kerala are oil spill-prone. PCB chairperson Sreekala S acknowledged the delay, stating, "We are still in the process of finalising the tender and evaluating the report." Experts have criticized this as a major failure, noting that planning efforts began in 2016 but remain incomplete.

The hazardous cargo, especially calcium carbide, poses additional risks as it reacts with seawater to release flammable acetylene gas. Multiple agencies including the Fire Force, Chemical Explosives Department, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, and the Department of Factories and Boilers are on standby to respond if containers reach land.

This incident underscores the vulnerability of Kerala's coastline, adjacent to international oil transportation routes, and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and pollution control measures.

Key quotes and stats:
"We are still in the process of finalising the tender and evaluating the report" - PCB chairperson Sreekala S
Over 100 containers floating post-sinking
84.44 MT diesel and 367.1 MT furnace oil spilled
9 out of 14 districts in Kerala are oil spill-prone

Kerala authorities are on high alert after the Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank off the Kochi coast, spilling oil and hazardous cargo including calcium carbide. Over 100 containers, some breaking apart, threaten the Arabian Sea, prompting intensified pollution control and multi-agency emergency preparedness.