Kerala’s coastal waters are facing a troubling surge in maritime incidents, with three noteworthy events occurring within a short timeframe, raising concerns about legal implications, firefighting efforts, and potential environmental and economic impacts.
On Thursday, the Kerala High Court mandated the conditional arrest of the MSC Manasa F, currently docked at Vizhinjam Port. This decision stemmed from a damages claim made by Mangalath Cashews, a Kollam-based exporter, asserting that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was responsible for a cargo loss during the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 off the Alappuzha coast last month. The exporter requested $180,000 in damages, raising fears that the MSC Manasa F might soon depart, as MSC lacks physical assets in India. The court stipulated that the arrest would only be lifted if the claimed damages were deposited or secured.
While this legal situation unfolded, a fire erupted on board another vessel, the Singapore-flagged Interasia Tenacity, as it traveled along the Kerala coast from Port Klang to Nhava Sheva. The ship, carrying 1,387 containers and manned by a crew of 21 Filipinos, sent out a distress signal. Fortunately, the ship’s captain managed to control the fire and declined further assistance, with no injuries reported. Nevertheless, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is maintaining vigilance given the recent uptick in maritime mishaps.
Compounding these issues is the ongoing emergency operation involving the Singapore-flagged Wan Hai 503, which caught fire on June 9, approximately 42 nautical miles off Beypore in the Arabian Sea. The ecological risks from its fuel and hazardous cargo have escalated, with smoke still rising from the vessel’s hold days after the blaze began. An Indian Air Force helicopter has dropped 2,600 kg of fire-retardant chemical powder on the ship’s deck to help control the flames, but internal fires persist. The ICG has commenced towing the Wan Hai 503 into deeper waters to mitigate risks to the coastline, while T&T Salvage prepares to take control once conditions are suitable.
Additionally, search efforts continue for four missing crew members from this incident, and another tugboat is being dispatched to replace the Ocean Warrior, which returned to port due to technical issues. Efforts are also underway to manage pollution risks from the sunken MSC Elsa 3, including oil removal to prevent further ecological damage.
The sequence of maritime accidents in Kerala underscores the pressing need for enhanced maritime safety measures, as both legal ramifications and environmental concerns mount in response to these incidents.
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