Authorities in India’s southern state of Kerala have issued a coastal alert after a cargo ship carrying oil and hazardous materials capsized and leaked pollutants into the Arabian Sea near Kochi.
The Liberian-flagged vessel, MSC ELSA 3, was en route from Vizhinjam port to Kochi when it began listing dangerously about 38 nautical miles off the coast. It sank in the early hours of Sunday following flooding in one of its compartments. All 24 crew members on board were safely rescued in a joint operation led by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous chemicals and 12 with calcium carbide—a substance that reacts with seawater to release flammable acetylene gas. Additionally, the vessel had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks.
Officials have confirmed that some containers have begun drifting toward the coastline, raising fears of further environmental contamination. The affected stretch of coastline is known for its ecological richness and is a key tourist destination, making the potential impact of the spill even more concerning.
“As the oil slick can reach anywhere along the Kerala coast, an alert has been sounded across the coastal belt,” said a statement from the office of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Residents living near the shore have been cautioned not to touch any unidentified containers or substances that may wash ashore. Fishermen have also been advised to steer clear of the area surrounding the sunken vessel.
In response to the incident, pollution control efforts have been ramped up. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed a specialised ship equipped with pollution control systems and has dispatched an aircraft outfitted with an oil spill detection system to monitor the affected zone.
“Containment and cleanup operations are underway, but the full extent of the environmental damage is yet to be assessed,” said a senior official from the state’s disaster management authority.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over maritime safety and the handling of hazardous cargo along India’s busy shipping routes. Environmentalists are urging for a thorough investigation and stricter enforcement of shipping regulations to prevent future disasters.
As authorities continue to monitor the spill, the state remains on high alert, with emergency teams and cleanup crews mobilised along the coast to mitigate further damage.
