Latest news with #MSCElsa
The Hindu
4 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
14-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Containers from Wan Hai 503 likely to wash ashore on Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam coasts between June 16 and June 18
Containers that fell overboard from the Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 are likely to wash ashore on the Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam coasts between June 16 and June 18. The container ship had caught fire at sea on June 9 following an explosion. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued the update on Saturday citing the Coast Guard and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF). The public have been advised to stay away from any suspicious object found on the coast. A distance of at least 200 metres should be maintained from them, the KSDMA said. The authority urged the people to alert the authorities about their presence on the emergency number 112. It may be recalled that a similar advisory had been issued in the case of the MSC Elsa shipwreck in May. Meanwhile, the Navy said that MV Wan Hai 503 is at present beyond the 1,000-metre sounding line (depth) at a distance of about 45 nautical miles from the coast. According to the Navy, the ship is being towed to deeper waters. The ship is stable, but with a tilt to port and smoke still rising from it. The tug Offshore Warrior is towing the vessel. Coast Guard ship Saksham is fuelling the tug so that it continues to operate without disruption, the Navy said. The Coast Guard said on Saturday that it was closely working with the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure that the container vessel remains at least 50 nautical miles from the Indian coast. The Coast Guard said it intended to make sure that this distance is maintained 'until a suitable fate is decided by the owners of the vessel in line with internationally accepted practices.' Salvage operations had moved forward in a big way after the vessel's towline was successfully transferred from Coast Guard ships to the ocean-going tug Offshore Warrior.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Proposed air enclave a work in progress, set to boost Coast Guard's capabilities: DG S. Paramesh
Coast Guard Director General S. Paramesh on Saturday described the long-pending proposal for an air enclave for the maritime law enforcement agency in Thiruvananthapuram as a 'work in progress.' Once all the approvals are secured and it gets commissioned, the enclave will give a fillip to the Coast Guard's charter of duties including search and rescue (SAR) operations in the southern region, he said. According to him, the enclave will permanently station helicopters, considerably enhancing operational preparedness and response to emergencies out at sea. 'Fixed-wing aircraft can come here on detachment and operate from here,' the Flag Officer told The Hindu on Saturday after inaugurating a new, 76.7-m-long jetty for Coast Guard vessels at Vizhinjam. Although the Coast Guard Station at Vizhinjam is equipped with fast patrol vessels and interceptor boats, air support has to come from Kochi, where the Coast Guard has its regional headquarters. The commissioning of a major seaport at Vizhinjam, SAR related to fishing vessels and maritime emergencies such as the recent sinking of the container ship MSC Elsa underscore the need for the increased presence of the Coast Guard in the southern part of Kerala. Expanded Coast Guard presence in Thiruvananthapuram district will definitely help during incidents such as the sinking of MSC Elsa since it is the first responder to maritime emergencies, Mr. Paramesh said. 'It (the sinking of MSC Elsa) is a very unfortunate incident. The matter is being investigated by the Director General Shipping. Once they finish the investigation, we will come to know the reasons that caused the ship to flounder and sink,' he said. The new Coast Guard jetty at Vizhinjam is expected to enhance the Coast Guard's operational preparedness significantly, the Flag Officer said. The construction of the jetty, though started in September 2019, had been delayed on account of the presence of a half-submerged tug at the was resumed in April 2024.
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Proposed air enclave in Thiruvananthapuram will give a fillip to Coast Guard presence in southern region, says Coast Guard Director General
Coast Guard Director General S. Paramesh on Saturday (June 7, 2025) described the long-pending proposal for an air enclave for the maritime law enforcement agency in Thiruvananthapuram as a 'work in progress.' Once all the approvals are secured and it gets commissioned, the enclave will give a fillip to the Coast Guard's charter of duties including search and rescue (SAR) operations in the southern region, he said. According to him, the enclave will permanently station helicopters, considerably enhancing operational preparedness and response to emergencies out at sea. 'Fixed-wing aircraft can come here on detachment and operate from here,' the Flag Officer told The Hindu after inaugurating a new, 76.7 metre-long jetty for Coast Guard vessels at Vizhinjam. Although the Coast Guard station at Vizhinjam is equipped with fast-patrol vessels and interceptor boats, air support has to come from Kochi, where the Coast Guard has its regional headquarters. The commissioning of a major seaport at Vizhinjam, SAR related to fishing vessels and maritime emergencies such as the recent sinking of the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa underscore the need for the increased presence of the Coast Guard in the southern part of Kerala. Expanded Coast Guard presence in Thiruvananthapuram district will definitely help during incidents such as the sinking of MSC Elsa since it is the first responder to maritime emergencies, Mr. Paramesh said. 'It (the sinking of MSC Elsa) is a very unfortunate incident. The matter is being investigated by the Director General Shipping. Once they finish the investigation, we will come to know the reasons that caused the ship to flounder and sink,' he said. Operational preparedness The new Coast Guard jetty at Vizhinjam is expected to enhance the Coast Guard's operational preparedness significantly, the Flag Officer said. The construction of the jetty, though started in September 2019, had been delayed on account of the presence of a half-submerged tug at the site. Work was resumed in April 2024. The jetty is 76.7 metres long, eight metres wide and four to six metres deep. Earlier, Coast Guard vessels in Vizhinjam were forced to depend on commercial berths, which was seen as a major handicap considering the agency's growing responsibilities in the region. 'The new jetty is a very important piece of operational infrastructure for us. We are the first responders to any issue in the maritime arena be it search-and-rescue, medical evacuation or matters related to coastal security. So it is very important for us to have the wherewithal on shore for our ships to berth safely and respond quickly to emergencies out at sea,' said Mr. Paramesh.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Off Kerala coast, washed-up container from sunken ship sparks curiosity
Long Reads 55 min ago Conversations around a reddish-brown container, one of the many that have beached following the recent sinking of Liberia-registered ship MSC Elsa 3
