Kerala Declares MSC ELSA-3 Shipwreck A State-Specific Disaster

The Kerala government has officially declared the wreckage of the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC ELSA-3, which sank off the state’s coast, as a State-Specific Disaster.

The cargo ship, carrying over 643 containers including hazardous materials like calcium carbide and organic chemicals, sank on May 25, 2025, around 14.6 nautical miles off Thottappalli coast in Alappuzha district.

The vessel, en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi, capsized after facing rough seas and possible technical issues, including hull leakage, mechanical failure, or unbalanced cargo.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Department issued an order highlighting the danger posed by floating debris, drifting cargo, oil spill risks, and hazardous substances, some of which have already started washing ashore. The order allows the state to use emergency funds and manpower from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief and cleanup.

The Principal Secretary said the wreckage has raised environmental concerns along Kerala’s 640-km coastline, with possible long-term impacts on marine life and public health.

So far, at least 54 containers have been found on Kerala’s shores, including 43 in Kollam, 9 in Thiruvananthapuram, and 2 in Alappuzha. Plastic pellets and polythene granules from broken containers have also piled up on Thiruvananthapuram beaches, increasing the threat of microplastic pollution.

Amid cleanup operations, a fire broke out on May 29 during cutting operations on one of the containers washed ashore at Shakthikulangara coast in Kollam. Fire force officials reported that flames erupted from the thermocol insulation when gas cutting was underway, and strong sea winds spread the blaze, which was quickly brought under control.

Eleven containers had reached this part of the coast, and some were found fused together with thermocol-type material between them.

Consequent to sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off #Alappuzha, #Kerala raising #OilSpill concerns. @IndiaCoastGuard launched swift & robust response#ICG Ship Saksham with #PollutionResponse gear, Dornier aircraft for aerial surveillance & #OSD dispersal.
02 OPVs incl. #ICG Pollution… pic.twitter.com/djER6Q2stO

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) May 27, 2025

In a separate incident, during a beach inspection on May 29 ahead of an upcoming coastal cleanup drive by the Ocean Society of India, a dead dolphin was found at Valiyazheekkal Beach in Alappuzha. The initial assessment by a zoology professor from TKMM College, Nagarkulangara, suggested the animal had died before the shipwreck.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to recover the remaining containers and prevent further damage. In a press briefing, the nautical advisor to the Government of India, Captain Abul Kalam Azad, said the focus is on three major tasks, recovering oil from the sunken ship, retrieving drifting cargo, and removing the containers that have reached the shore.

He stated that over 100 containers were lost, and 50 have already been located at seven different sites. Authorities aim to collect them all within 48 hours, and the oil recovery work is expected to be completed by July 3, 2025.

The Kerala government has also banned fishing activities within a 20-nautical-mile radius from the site. Though authorities have assured the public that fish sold in markets is currently safe, experts have warned that long-term environmental damage could affect marine life and local livelihoods.

Additionally, the government is considering legal action against the owner of MSC ELSA-3, due to the scale of marine pollution and the presence of hazardous cargo on the ship. The Customs Department has verified the cargo manifest, confirming 12 containers carried dangerous incendiary substances like calcium carbide, which is known to react violently with water.

Emergency teams, including sanitation workers, police, and volunteers, have been deployed to tackle the cleanup across affected beaches. A large-scale coastal cleanup campaign is being organised, with local participation encouraged to help mitigate the environmental impact.

References: thehindu, cnbctv18

Source: Maritime Shipping News