Shipwreck off Kerala Coast Triggers Oil Spill
Moneylife Digital Team 27 May 2025
In the early hours of 25 May 2025, the Liberia-flagged container vessel MV MSC ELSA 3 sank about 15 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala. The maritime incident has raised environmental concerns, including the potential for an oil spill and the drifting of debris and cargo ashore along Kerala’s coastline.
  
Within two–three hours of the vessel’s submergence, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) surveillance aircraft detected the presence of an oil slick at the site. In response, ICG Ship Saksham, already on standby in pollution response (PR) configuration, was immediately deployed to commence counter-pollution operations. Simultaneously, an ICG Dornier aircraft was launched for aerial assessment and for dispersing oil spill dispersant (OSD) across a wide area.
  
Prevailing weather conditions, with sea states at levels 4–5 and strong winds, presented significant challenges for responders. Despite these difficulties, ICG personnel have continued operations with professionalism and resilience, navigating hazardous waters littered with floating containers and ensuring the safe diversion of all merchant traffic away from the affected zone.
  
ICG continues to conduct intensive surveillance and spill mitigation through multiple aerial sorties and the use of specialised equipment to deploy OSD. Two ICG offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) remain on-site for ongoing monitoring, assessment, and pollution response. Additionally, ICG has mobilised ICG Ship Samudra Prahari, a specialised PR vessel carrying a substantial quantity of OSD, along with additional OPVs configured for pollution response.
  
The mercantile marine department (MMD) at Kochi, has issued a warning to the vessel’s owners regarding their pollution liability. The ICG has also advised the state administration to prepare for shoreline cleanup operations and to caution local communities against handling any debris or cargo that may wash ashore.
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