Kerala coast faces oil spill threat as MSC Elsa 3 sinks; experts warn of cleanup challenges

Navy and Coast Guard rush to contain oil spill as experts warn of shore cleanup challenges

As the Indian Navy and Coast Guard work swiftly to prevent a potential oil spill from the MSC Elsa 3 container ship that sank on Sunday, marine experts have stressed the importance of containing the pollution at sea. They warned that cleaning up oil onshore, especially during the monsoon, poses significant challenges.

At the same time, scientists from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), operating under the Agriculture Ministry, have been deployed to three locations along Kerala’s coast to collect water and sediment samples and assess possible environmental impacts onshore.

Indian Navy and Coast Guard teams are working urgently to contain any possible oil leakage from the vessel, which was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. The ship also had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil on board, the Coast Guard confirmed.

So far, no oil slick has been observed along the Kerala coastline. However, authorities fear that the vessel's fuel may have started leaking into the surrounding waters. Containers from the sunken vessel have already washed ashore in parts of Kollam and Alappuzha.

According to a report by The Indian Express, renowned marine biologist Deepak Apte, who currently heads the non-profit Srushti Conservation Foundation, emphasized that offshore containment—using booms, sprays, and bioremediation—would be key to controlling any potential spill.

While working with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Deepak Apte led the investigation into the oil spill triggered by the collision between MSC Chitra and MV Khalijia III on August 7, 2010. The incident resulted in over 800 tons of oil leaking into the sea, causing significant damage to marine life and affecting hundreds of thousands of mangroves across the Mumbai and Raigad coastlines.

Apte, speaking to The Indian Express, said, “Monsoon has made an onset and the currents are towards the shore. With the monsoon tides and surges, access to shore areas will be difficult for clean ups if the oil slicks reach the coast. A lot will depend on how much quantum of oil is actually reaching the shore. In 2010, we saw that a lot of oil got deposited in the mangroves and mudflats and that is extremely difficult to clean up."

He further added, “Impact of migratory birds, sea turtles nesting on sandy beaches and backwaters will be of concern if the quantum of the spill is large. As far as the site of the incident is concerned, fishes, sea birds will be impacted if there is a layer of oil. Once oil gets into their organs, very little can be done.”

The Indian Express quoted Grinson George, Director of CMFRI in Kochi, saying that if the oil spill is extensive, containment efforts may prove ineffective. “There will be short-term impacts, mostly on small-scale and artisanal fishermen who work closer to the coast. It can affect livelihoods. Oil smothering could threaten marine species and impact pelagic fish breeding,” he said.

George stated that three teams from CMFRI have been sent to various locations along Kerala’s coast to conduct field surveys, gather samples, and monitor the possible ecological effects of the spill. Additionally, a team from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is expected to join the efforts soon.

The CMFRI teams will focus on Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Kollam, where they will collect water and sediment samples to measure the levels of oil and grease and analyze their chemical composition.

An anonymous member of one of the teams reported that there are currently no signs of the oil spill reaching the coast. They also mentioned that a research vessel will be deployed for sampling once the sea conditions improve.

Sreenath K R, Director General of the Fishery Survey of India, noted that both benthic (deep-sea) and pelagic (open-sea) ecosystems could be affected. “This is a peak breeding season for many species. Juveniles, larvae, and plankton are especially vulnerable. If the spill spreads south, even coral reefs could be at risk,” he cautioned.