A major oil spill containment operation is underway off the Kerala coast after the Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 sank on May 25, raising alarm over potential environmental damage.
The 184-metre container vessel went down 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, reportedly due to flooding. All 24 crew members on board were rescued safely.
The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 loaded with calcium carbide, a chemical used in fertiliser and steelmaking. It also had an estimated 370 tonnes of fuel and oil.
The Indian Coast Guard has deployed two ships and a Dornier aircraft to contain and neutralise the spill. Spraying operations to disperse the oil are currently in progress, the Kerala government confirmed.
