Officials at the Mercantile Marine Department in Kochi have reiterated that there is no large-scale oil spill from the sunken ship MSC Elsa 3 off the Kerala coast on May 25.
The officials told reporters that all visible traces are being addressed swiftly and scientifically. Container recovery and clean-up measures are under strict monitoring.
While minor oil traces have been detected, there has been no major oil spill. All traces found along the coast are being cleaned up through coordinated efforts, said Senthil Kumar, Principal Officer, MMD Kochi.
Captain Abul Kalam Azad, Nautical Advisor to the government, outlined three top operational priorities such as oil recovery from the sunken vessel, retrieval of drifting containers, and removal of beached containers. The oil recovery operation is currently underway, with the salvage team setting July 3, 2025, as the completion target. So far, 50 containers have been identified from seven different coastal locations, and the priority is to recover all of them within the next 48 hours.
Ajithkumar Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor, said that the Ministry and DG Shipping are fully cognizant of the magnitude and complexity of the situation. All necessary mechanisms are in place to address the issue and prevent any further mishaps.
The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous materials. Prompt rescue efforts ensured the safety of all 24 crew members. There were 367.1 tonnes of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 84.44 tonnes of marine diesel fuel. Oil and diesel leaks have been confirmed. Over 100 containers are reported to have been lost at sea, and several have washed ashore in Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
The environmental threat posed by the incident is being actively mitigated. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed ships and aircraft for aerial surveillance. Dispersants are being applied under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan.
Within six hours of the incident, DG Shipping convened a coordination meeting to avert a potential environmental disaster. An on-site team in Kochi continues to monitor and manage pollution risks. High-range drones and precision scanning equipment are in use to detect and contain oil traces. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority is working closely with DG Shipping, deploying trained volunteers for clean-up activities, the officials said.
