MSC ELSA 3

scrapped

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Seals of tanks plugged and capped

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on June 13 said that capping and plugging of all identified fuel oil tanks of the 'MSC Elsa' has been completed, and there was no evidence of oil leakage in the vicinity of the wreck. The oil containment measures have temporarily stabilised the situation, but a full risk mitigation will happen only on successful commencement of saturation diving to extract the remaining trapped fuel oil from the vessel. Delays in mobilisation of saturation diving equipment have already shifted the initial operational timelines. Hot tapping and oil extraction will take around 24 days, weather permitting. The DGS has directed the salvors to submit two revised schedules, one optimistic, assuming good weather, and one realistic, accounting for monsoon disruptions. Efforts to recover the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) were not yet successful. The diving operations for it will continue. The 'Seamac III', from which the divers were working, has returned to Kochi for conversion to saturation diving operations. Which was expected to take three days. The Marine Emergency Response Centre (MERC) has reported that 58 containers have been delivered to port with one small container piece recovered during the day and the hydraulic oil barrels have also been secured. The nurdle recovery was continuing, but was taking time as more of it is being deposited on shores due to wave action. A beach-cleaning vacuum unit from Bengaluru was en route for field trials. The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) has recommended further increasing volunteer deployment to accelerate shoreline recovery. Meanwhile, the MERC continued to maintain daily site-wise cleanup activities across affected districts.d

Salvors and owners were given 48 hours for oil extraction

The Directorate General of Shipping has given the salvors and owners of the 'MSC Elsa 3' 48 hours to begin and complete the extraction of oil leaking into the sea, warning that failure to act would lead to civil and criminal charges. The notice was issued on the evening, of June 11. The ship had on board 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil. Delays in starting saturation diving - the recommended method for safely removing the oil -have seriously disrupted the operation’s timeline. Given the seriousness of the environmental threat and the narrowing operational window due to the approaching monsoon, the salvors and shipowners have now been given a final ultimatum to begin and complete the oil removal. A failure to comply would result in both civil and criminal liability being imposed under applicable Indian laws, and legal proceedings will be initiated before the competent courts without further notice, The divers were working from the 'Seamec III' in round-the-clock shifts, but worsening weather due to the incoming monsoon is putting pressure on teams to complete the task swiftly. The dive team has been expanded to speed up the work, and more equipment was being moved in. Completing the sealing and quickly transitioning to oil extraction was now urgent, before rough seas make further diving impossible. The divers successfully sealed multiple bunker vents and surrounding pipes that were contributing to oil seepage, with no active overflow currently observed. Continuous monitoring was underway for minor seepage detected from the sounding pipe of Fuel Oil Tank No 22. Sounding pipe leaks have been contained using layered sealing (plastic and polyester materials), and an additional loosened cap was tightened and secured to halt minor leakage. Centre Tank No 24 has been confirmed secure; precautionary sealing will be undertaken to eliminate any residual risks.

MSC Ship Management got formal notice for gross negligence regarding salvage operations

The Director General of Shipping has issued a formal notice to the MSC Ship Management for gross negligence in salvage operations of the 'MSC Elsa 3' off the Kochi coast and imminent threat to the marine environment and the coast line. The progress made in this operation was grossly inadequate and continued to fall short of the timelines and operational commitments previously provided by the owners and salvors. Should the extraction of oil not commence within next 48 hours, the government shall be left with no alternative but examine all avenues against the ship owners and salvors under applicable Indian legislation for the continuing threat posed to Indian waters and the coastal environment, a notice said. Despite repeated instructions and coordination meetings, the response from salvors has been consistently delayed and insufficient. The lack of prompt action has resulted in a continued and serious risk to marine environment and coastline, particularly affecting Kerala’s coastal region. The local communities in the region have already suffered extensive loss of work and income due to the prolonged presence of the sunken vessel, floating debris, oil sheen and ongoing pollution risks. The salvors not only delayed the required diving support vessel and personnel, but also failed to file visa applications for saturation divers from 11 countries, even after the Indian government facilitated diplomatic support for their clearance. The vessel, which lies at the depth of 51 metres, requires saturation diving for oil recovery. However, only limited air diving has been conducted so far, insufficient for the safe and complete extraction of oil trapped in the tanks. Capping of vents was still being conducted at present. The extraction of oil, originally scheduled to commence around June 5, has not even begun as of this date. The Directorate General of Shipping placed the owners and salvors on formal notice that any further delay beyond the specified period will be treated as wilful and deliberate noncompliance, and the government shall proceed to exercise its full legal rights and remedies without further reference. A Division Bench of the High Court has directed the Vizhinjam Port Authority to detain another MSC vessel, the 'MSC Manasa F'. The directive came in response to a petition filed by the Cashew Export Promotion Council. The petition stated that the 'MSC Elsa 3' was supposed to reach Vizhinjam with a cashew cargo on board, alleging a loss of ₹6 crore due to the accident. The court ordered the detention of the 'MSC Manasa F' and that the ship will be released upon presentation of a demand draft of ₹6 crore to the court. The High Court will reconsider the petition on June 12 at 1:45 p.m..