Kerala: Why a Liberian shipwreck spells trouble for us

A serious environmental crisis has arisen in the entire region after Liberian container ship MSC Elsa 3 sank in the sea some 14.6 nautical miles (27 km approx.) from Thotapalli on Kerala's Alappuzha coast.

The vessel began tilting to one side on Saturday, 24 May and sank completely at around 7.50 am on Sunday. The Indian Coast Guard promptly rescued everyone on board, but saving the sea is a different matter altogether. Not only is the oil in the ship and that used to burn in the furnace dangerous for marine life, but the chemicals in the containers can cause destruction in the long run.

The ship was carrying a total of 640 containers. At the time of writing, at least 54 have washed ashore on the beaches of Kollam (43), Thiruvananthapuram (9) and Alappuzha (2). Additionally, flotsam from damaged containers battered by the high seas off the coast could wash up on the state's southern beaches.

As the vessel sank, 29 containers came to the water's surface, but most of them were empty. Small grains of plastic and polythene have washed ashore on the coast of Thiruvananthapuram, posing a threat of long-term microplastic pollution.

The state government has declared the sinking a regional-level disaster and started cleaning the beach with help from volunteers. About 50 containers, many of them empty, were stranded and jolted around by the monsoon weather. Officials say the rubber solution has reacted with seawater, leading to plastic granules being found along the coast.

Five containers carrying calcium carbide, another pollution hazard, are lying on the seabed and need to be disposed of safely. Some oil pollution has also been reported. There is no clear solution yet to safely dispose of the plastic granules. It is fortunate that not much oil has spilled out so far, but it is likely to spread if immediate action is not taken.

The main concern is that of the items on board, 13 were classified as 'dangerous cargo' and 12 contained calcium carbide. Apart from this, the ship also has 84.44 metric tonne of diesel and 367.1 metric tonne of furnace oil. These containers are floating in the sea at a speed of about three km, and it cannot be said which container will go in which direction and what damage it will cause.

The Kerala government has taken a few immediate steps to reduce and assess the damage. Fishing has been banned up to a distance of 20 nautical miles. Volunteers have been deployed every 100 m for cleaning and monitoring with drones. Apart from deploying a rapid response team led by the Pollution Control Board, the oil spill is also being monitored.

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has started a study to assess the impact of the accident on the marine environment. For the investigation, teams are collecting water, phytoplankton and sediment samples at regular intervals from 10 sites in each affected district. Water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen content, pH, nutrients, etc. are being studied.

CMFRI director Dr Grinson George says only after proper assessment of the leakage can we know its ecological and environmental impact. The institute is monitoring field surveys, collecting samples, watching the direction of the leakage, etc. Globally renowned disaster and chemical expert Dr Murali Thummurkudu, former professor of World Maritime University Dr Olaf Liden, environmental impact economics expert Shantakumar, petroleum chemical analysis expert Dr Babu Pillai are also engaged in assessment, rescue, relief etc.

In fact, the monsoon has arrived before time and the main concern is that this is the breeding season for most marine life species, especially fish. In such a situation, the leakage of oil and dangerous chemicals can harm marine productivity. In case of extensive and serious leakage, marine life can suffocate, which could lead to long-term damage.

The initial assessment is that the most horrific damage is expected from the containers filled with calcium carbide loaded in the ship. The reaction of calcium carbide with water can reduce water oxygen levels, which will cause breathing difficulties for marine organisms, since this highly reactive chemical rapidly forms acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide in contact with water.

Acetylene is a highly flammable gas. If large amounts accumulate on the sea or in coastal areas, fires or explosions may result. The alkalinity of water also increases owing to calcium hydroxide. A sudden increase in the pH level in seawater can disturb the balance of the marine ecosystem. It can damage fish gills, coral reefs (their fins have distinctive pointed, bony rays and spines) and eggs of aquatic animals. Many species cannot even survive these chemical changes, which could destroy breeding sites and affect local fisheries.

Leakage of large amounts of diesel stored in the fuel tank of a ship is also fatal, since a thick layer of oil will spread over the sea and this will stop the flow of oxygen inside the water. Apart from this, bodies of marine birds, mammals (such as dolphins and whales), fish and invertebrates (such as crabs and snails) can be covered with a layer of oil. This will stick to their fins or fur, making them unable to swim, fly or control their temperatures.

In addition, diesel contains many toxic compounds that are harmful to marine organisms. These chemicals can make them sick, affect their reproduction or even cause death. If the oil accumulates on beaches, mangrove forests and marshlands, it can cause long-term damage to sensitive ecosystems.

The furnace oil loaded on the ship is called Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). This petroleum product is used as fuel in ship engines. It has low sulphur content but the effects are similar to those of diesel. In February last year, the ship Wakashio sank off Mauritius, and subsequent studies have shown that VLSFO can remain in sediments and mangroves for a long time and cause long-term damage to the ecosystem.

This type of accident is internationally termed as a second-grade marine disaster. However, this is only the second incident in the world of a ship accident involving calcium carbide. On 18 February 1997, a ship named Albion-2 sank with 114 tonnes of calcium carbide about 60 miles off the coast of Brest in France. The vessel's owner was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The crisis looming over the southern coast of India is not only related to the environment but also the livelihood of millions of people. The fisheries sector in Kerala provides a living to about 2.98 percent of the state's total population. Of this, about 8 lakh are fishermen. The annual domestic sale of fish products in the state is estimated to be around Rs 600 crore.

If the oil and chemical spillage becomes severe, Kerala's already declining fisheries industry will come to its knees. The total marine production in Kerala is estimated to have declined from 6.90 lakh tonne in 2022-23 to 5.8 lakh tonne in 2023-24. Despite this, Kerala still ranks second in the country in marine fishing.

The Union government is considering fixing the age of vessels operating in Indian waters. According to Shyam Jagannathan, director-general of the shipping department, the age of a ship is not a restriction under international standards but the inspection system needs to be strengthened to ensure that ships operating in Indian waters comply with maritime norms.

"We are concerned about some old ships which are operating in Indian waters," he said. However, he added that there is a need to enhance the inspection regime to ensure that vessels operating in Indian waters comply with maritime norms. "We have some concerns about some old vessels operating in Indian waters. We are working on a proposal to fix the lifespan of vessels," he said.