Kerala coastline is under growing environmental and safety threat following the sinking of the cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3, which went down 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Alappuzha on May 25.
The vessel, carrying 643 containers, included several loaded with hazardous chemicals such as calcium carbide—raising serious alarm about the potential for toxic leaks into surrounding waters and ecological zones.The Kerala government has released a cargo inventory report that details the contents of the sunken ship. Of particular concern are 13 containers of calcium carbide, a compound that reacts explosively with water to release acetylene gas. Five of these containers were stored on the deck and are directly exposed to seawater. The remaining eight are located within the vessel’s inner compartments, which may temporarily delay contamination but are still vulnerable to prolonged exposure and structural decay.
Experts warn that calcium carbide, under oceanic pressure and water contact, could trigger chemical reactions that are both dangerous to human health and catastrophic to marine ecosystems. The ship’s sinking location, close to the state’s intricate network of backwaters and fishing zones, intensifies fears of toxic runoff or chemical leakage during the upcoming monsoon.In addition to hazardous cargo, the ship was carrying a variety of organic and industrial materials: 46 containers of coconuts, Brazil nuts, and cashew nuts, 39 containers of cotton, and bulk quantities of wooden logs, plastic polymers, and quicklime. While not all of these are classified as dangerous, their decomposition in seawater can cause oxygen depletion and long-term damage to marine biodiversity.
The cause of the incident has been traced to a ballast water mismanagement error during the vessel’s stop at Vizhinjam port—a private terminal managed by the Adani Group—prior to departure. Ballast water, which stabilises ships, must be carefully monitored to avoid imbalance. In this case, an incorrect filling procedure allegedly led to the ship losing stability and eventually capsizing at sea. The Directorate General of Shipping has acknowledged the lapse but has yet to recommend punitive or corrective measures.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, the Kerala government has faced criticism for delayed action. Officials have argued that because the ship sank beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit, the matter falls under central jurisdiction. However, activists and local stakeholders contend that the lack of legal or environmental urgency reflects a wider systemic issue: regulatory evasion in the wake of port privatisation and fragmented maritime oversight.This bureaucratic ambiguity has left gaps in emergency response, salvage planning, and environmental mitigation—threatening not only marine biodiversity but also the livelihoods of thousands of coastal and fishing communities. With the monsoon approaching, there is growing pressure for both the state and central governments to act swiftly and transparently.
Coastal researchers are now calling for an immediate underwater assessment to evaluate the structural integrity of the wreck, particularly the positioning of the calcium carbide containers. Simultaneously, environmental watchdogs demand strict enforcement of hazardous cargo handling norms, including at private ports like Vizhinjam.
The Alappuzha shipwreck has become more than a maritime accident—it is a litmus test for India’s ability to protect its coastline, ensure environmental safety, and hold port operators accountable in a time of rising ocean traffic and industrial cargo movement.
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