Latest news with #DirectorateGeneralofShipping
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Stronger Port State Control regime to ensure safety of ships called for
The back-to-back ship accidents off the coast of Kerala, including the sinking of MSC Elsa 3 and the explosion on the Singapore-flagged vessel Wan Hai-503, raise questions on the lax regulatory inspections being carried out by different agencies on ships. The incidents also highlight the need for a stronger Port State Control (PSC) regime along with real-time accesses to the details of dangerous cargo. The PSC regime envisions identifying substandard ships at any port in India and ensuring seaworthiness before the vessels are allowed to sail out of the port. The ships registered in various countries, especially under a flag of convenience (FoC) — a system in which ships are registered in countries where more lenient regulatory regimes exist — have to be subjected to routine inspections at various ports to ensure the safety, maintenance, manning, etc. According to reports, the 2000-registered MSC Elsa, the ship that sank off the coast of Kerala on May 25 spilling hazardous substances posing serious threat to the marine ecosystem and livelihood of thousands of fishermen, had been flagged for many deficiencies in the past, including at Tuticorin port in 2023, although the ship had a seaworthy certification. Speaking to The Hindu, a senior officer at the office of the Directorate General of Shipping said it was the Mercantile Marine department which had to conduct periodic inspections both on vessels registered in India and those registered in foreign nations during the port of call. 'We don't think there was any regulatory laxity or slackness in ensuring the safety of vessels calling at Indian ports. Moreover, a ship tilting to one side during its voyage doesn't mean that it was substandard or lacks fitness. There would be plenty of reasons which have to be ascertained through a detailed investigation,' he said. Maritime law expert V.J. Mathew said it had been around a month since the ship sank off the coast of Kerala. 'There is a clear remissness in conducting a primary investigation and submitting a report in connection with the accident,' he said. 'Even at this moment, I don't think the full detailed manifest of the containers carrying hazardous materials onboard MSC Elsa has been released,' said Mr. Mathew. N.S. Pillai, Chairman, Kerala Maritime Board, said the State had no role in enforcing the rules or carrying out surveys and inspections on vessels although deficiencies had been flagged in the past. 'Our role is mainly to provide necessary infrastructure for the berthing of vessels that call at ports under the board,' he said. The experts are of the view that the Centre should effectively implement the PSC regime and fix accountability for such accident without delay.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Fire aboard Singapore-flagged ship partially contained: DGS
The blaze aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo ship, which caught fire last week off the Kerala coast, is partially contained, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said on Wednesday. According to a DGS report about the situation as of June 17, there is a noticeable reduction in visible flames and smoke intensity across most zones of the vessel -- MV Wan Hai 503 -- that caught fire after an explosion in one of the containers aboard. The vessel was heading to Colombo from Mumbai. The other positive developments were the vessel's reduced speed, its offshore trajectory and current position at around 68.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, the report said. At the same time, the persistent smoke from certain sections of the ship, its history of internal flare-ups which require sustained firefighting pressure, the adverse weather conditions and the absence of a second towline were matters of concern, it said. 'Weather at the site remains adverse, with westerly winds between 29–34 knots, gusting up to 39 knots, intermittent heavy rainfall, and periods of zero visibility, all of which are significantly impeding firefighting and boarding operations,' the DGS said. Establishing a second towline was crucial, given the dynamic sea state and the structural stresses already endured by the vessel, it added. At present, the ship remains connected via a single towline to a tugboat -- Offshore Warrior, it said. The DGS report further said that stability assessments of the vessel suggest it was operating within 90% of acceptable seagoing conditions, but targeted hull strength evaluations, especially near high-heat zones, remain a priority. It also said that discussions are going on for a Port of Refuge, as a contingency, with Jebel Ali in Dubai under primary consideration, subject to complete fire suppression, structural integrity assessments, and regulatory permissions. 'Alternatives in Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Qatar are also under review,' it added. The report further said that identification of a body which reportedly washed ashore near the Kerala coast is currently under verification, with support from local authorities, as of the 22 crew members on board the vessel, 18 were rescued while four remain missing. 'Efforts remain focused on fire suppression, structural safety, and safe relocation of the vessel out of Indian waters under controlled tow,' it said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Oil extraction from MSC Elsa 3 to take more time due to monsoon: DGS
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on Wednesday said that due to the prevailing peak monsoon conditions and associated operational risks, it will take more time to extract oil from the Liberian-flagged ship that sank off the Kerala coast last month. The DGS said the present weather conditions provide only a 'narrow and fragmented working window,' which is unsuitable for 'stable and safe' oil extraction efforts. 'Further delay would provide a more reliable window to safely conduct hot tapping and oil recovery,' it said. It further said that the vessel Nand Saarthi -- from where saturation diving operations for oil extraction were to be conducted -- remains at the Kochi port due to prevailing adverse sea conditions. 'Upon improvement in weather, it will sail to the wreck site. Oil recovery equipment on board Nand Saarthi is to be transferred to Canara Megh for the next phase. All accessories and gases remain available and are being held for deployment once the new contractor takes over,' the DGS said. It further said that the SEAMAC III vessel, from which the divers were working to plug the oil leaks in the sunken ship, has been demobilised and was proceeding to Mumbai as all the leaks have been plugged. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted aerial sorties using Dornier aircraft equipped with Pollution Surveillance Systems (PSS) to look for any oil slicks, the DGS said. 'No oil slick has been observed approximately 60 nautical miles from the wreck site. Additional sorties are planned to continue monitoring the situation,' it added. Besides that, satellite imagery from the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) is awaited to confirm whether there were any shoreline and offshore oil traces. Therefore, at present, the salvage operations are in a standby/caretaking phase till the new contractor takes over, it said. Regarding the clean-up operations, the DGS said that handling and disposal of plastic nurdles, which floated to the shores from the ship remains a concern. 'The Customs authorities have requested treating the recovered nurdles as bonded cargo. Approximately 65-75 tonnes is now stored shore-side, awaiting a final disposal decision,' the DGS said.
India Today
3 days ago
- General
- India Today
Fire on Singapore-flagged cargo ship off Kerala coast partially contained
The blaze aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo ship, which caught fire last week off the Kerala coast, is partially contained, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said on to a DGS report about the situation as of June 17, there is a noticeable reduction in visible flames and smoke intensity across most zones of the vessel -- MV Wan Hai 503 -- that caught fire after an explosion in one of the containers aboard. The vessel was heading to Colombo from other positive developments were the vessel's reduced speed, its offshore trajectory and current position at around 68.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, the report said. At the same time, the persistent smoke from certain sections of the ship, its history of internal flare-ups which require sustained firefighting pressure, the adverse weather conditions and the absence of a second towline were matters of concern, it said."Weather at the site remains adverse, with westerly winds between 29–34 knots, gusting up to 39 knots, intermittent heavy rainfall, and periods of zero visibility, all of which are significantly impeding firefighting and boarding operations," the DGS a second towline was crucial, given the dynamic sea state and the structural stresses already endured by the vessel, it added. Presently, the ship remains connected via a single towline to a tugboat -- Offshore Warrior,it DGS report further said that stability assessments of the vessel suggest it was operating within 90 per cent of acceptable seagoing conditions, but targeted hull strength evaluations, especially near high-heat zones, remain a also said that discussions are going on for a Port of Refuge, as a contingency, with Jebel Ali in Dubai under primary consideration, subject to complete fire suppression, structural integrity assessments, and regulatory permissions."Alternatives in Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Qatar are also under review," it report further said that identification of a body which reportedly washed ashore near the Kerala coast is currently under verification, with support from local authorities, as of the 22 crew members on board the vessel, 18 were rescued while four remain missing."Efforts remain focused on fire suppression, structural safety, and safe relocation of the vessel out of Indian waters under controlled tow," it InMust Watch
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
Oil extraction from MSC Elsa 3 to take more time due to monsoon season: DGS
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on Wednesday said that due to the prevailing peak monsoon conditions and associated operational risks, it will take more time to extract oil from the Liberian-flagged ship that sank off the Kerala coast last month. The DGS said that the present weather conditions provide only a "narrow and fragmented working window", which is unsuitable for "stable and safe" oil extraction efforts. "Further delay would provide a more reliable window to safely conduct hot tapping and oil recovery," it said. It further said that the vessel Nand Saarthi -- from where saturation diving operations for oil extraction were to be conducted -- remains at Kochi port due to prevailing adverse sea conditions. "Upon improvement in weather, it will sail to the wreck site. Oil recovery equipment onboard Nand Saarthi is to be transferred to Canara Megh for the next phase. All accessories and gases remain available and are being held for deployment once the new contractor takes over," the DGS said. It further said that the SEAMAC III vessel, from which the divers were working to plug the oil leaks in the sunken ship, has been demobilised and was proceeding to Mumbai as all the leaks have been plugged. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted aerial sorties using Dornier aircraft equipped with Pollution Surveillance Systems (PSS) to look for any oil slicks, the DGS said. "No oil slick has been observed approximately 60 nautical miles from the wreck site. Additional sorties are planned to continue monitoring the situation," it added. Besides that, satellite imagery from the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) is awaited to confirm whether there were any shoreline and offshore oil traces. Therefore, presently, the salvage operations are in a standby/caretaking phase till the new contractor takes over, it said. Regarding the clean-up operations, the DGS said that handling and disposal of plastic nurdles, which floated to the shores from the ship remains a concern. "The customs authorities have requested treating the recovered nurdles as bonded cargo. Approximately 65-75 tons are now stored shore-side, awaiting a final disposal decision," the DGS said. It further said that there was a need for a standard operating procedure for handling and disposal of the nurdles, that balances environmental safety with regulatory compliance. It said that according to the ITOPF the recovered nurdles include varying polymer grades, posing challenges to standardised disposal methods. "Onshore, the Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC) has continued container recovery activities at Kollam, focusing on submerged containers using divers. "Beach cleanup operations continue across Thiruvananthapuram with approximately 160 volunteers deployed," the DGS said. However, the intermittent rains have slowed down the clean-up work on some days, it added. "The air sorties and continuous coastal vigilance, in combination with onshore cleanup efforts, have been instrumental in monitoring post-wreck environmental impacts," it said. The Liberian-flagged MSC Elsa 3 had sunk approximately 14.6 nautical miles off Thottappally coast in Kerala's Alappuzha district between May 24-25. The vessel went down carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. It was also loaded with 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, according to the Ministry of Defence. The vessel sank with oil still trapped inside. On June 11, Kerala Police registered a case of rash navigation against the ship's owner, master, and crew. An FIR registered by the Fort Kochi Coastal Police Station states that the owners, master, and crew handled the vessel--which was carrying combustible and explosive cargo dangerous to human life and property--in a negligent manner, leading to its sinking. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
