The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has halted efforts to recover oil from the sunken cargo ship MSC Elsa 3 off Kerala’s coast following the termination of its contract with T&T Salvage. The vessel, located about 14.6 nautical miles from Thottappally Harbour, rests at a depth of approximately 54 meters. MSC’s decision was prompted by concerns over T&T Salvage’s lack of experience in conducting fuel extraction at such depths, despite their previous successes in sealing leakages using divers from South Africa and Singapore.
On June 10, the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) urged MSC to initiate oil extraction within 48 hours. By June 12, a diving support vessel, SEAMAC III, had successfully sealed the ship’s fuel tanks. However, T&T reported delays due to inclement weather and awaited customs clearance for essential equipment. Authorities have observed a light oil sheen near the site, believed to be from residual oils trapped within the shipwork, not from capped fuel tanks.
In response to the situation, Brand Marine Consultants is finalizing a new contract with SMIT Salvage for fuel removal operations. Meanwhile, onshore cleanup teams have made significant strides in collecting around 190 tonnes of plastic pellets from the spill, aided by local volunteers. The Indian government continues aerial surveillance of the wreck, with a tugboat monitoring the area.
