Liberian ship capsize: Kerala monsoon may impact oil spill clean-up, scientists warn of 'irreversible damage'

Credit: @indiannavy / X

As fears of an ecological disaster mount off Kerala’s coast, marine scientists have issued stark warnings that any delay in offshore containment of the oil leak from the sunken container ship MSC Elsa 3 could lead to irreversible damage.

In a report by The Indian Express, experts cautioned that once oil slicks reach the shoreline - especially during the monsoon season - cleanup becomes significantly harder, often leaving long-term consequences on marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.

Dr Deepak Apte, director of the Srushti Conservation Foundation and a leading expert who studied the 2010 Mumbai oil spill, was quoted by The Indian Express as saying that monsoon tides and storm surges would make shoreline access extremely difficult, warning that once oil enters mangroves, mudflats or nesting beaches, there is little that can be done to reverse the damage.

Scientists from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have been deployed across key coastal zones in Kerala, collecting water and sediment samples to assess the scale and potential fallout of the spill.

The Liberian-flagged MSC Elsa 3 sank early Sunday around 70 km off Kochi, sparking an emergency response from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The vessel was carrying 640 containers - including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide - alongside 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. While no large-scale shoreline contamination has been confirmed yet, multiple containers have already washed ashore in Kollam and Alappuzha districts.

Kerala's Maritime Board issued a red alert on Tuesday after fresh aerial surveillance spotted an oil sheen near the site of the wreck. At least one drifting container is suspected to have ruptured, though officials have yet to confirm if it was carrying toxic substances. In response, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to send expert teams and specialised containment equipment immediately, calling for an Environmental Impact Assessment under the Environment (Protection) Act.

The Indian Coast Guard confirmed all 24 crew members were rescued over the weekend in a joint operation with the Navy. The ship, which was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi, began listing severely last Saturday. An initial attempt to tow the vessel failed due to worsening sea conditions.

According to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), simulations show that more debris and oil could wash ashore over the next few days, especially in Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagappally. INCOIS’s real-time ocean forecast tools and oil spill models are aiding the response operations.

The Coast Guard’s vessel Saksham and surveillance aircraft are leading containment efforts.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has imposed a fishing ban within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the site and advised people to stay at least 200 metres away from any washed-up debris or containers.

Experts warn that species currently in breeding phases - such as pelagic fish, sea turtles and certain seabirds - are at increased risk if the spill spreads. Dr Grinson George, Director of CMFRI, noted that artisanal and small-scale fishermen may face immediate livelihood challenges due to water contamination and ecological disturbance, The Indian Express reported.