Executive Summary:
This document is a response to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the environmental impact of sunken or damaged foreign-flagged container vessels in Indian waters. It addresses incidents involving the MSC Elsa 3 and MV Wan Hai 503, detailing the government's response, environmental impact assessments, standard operating procedures, and legal actions. The document references events and actions taken up to July 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Incidents:
* MSC Elsa 3: Sank off the coast of Alappuzha on May 25, 2025, carrying 643 containers, including hazardous materials. 66 containers washed ashore, none containing hazardous cargoes. Approximately 540 MT of plastic nurdles were collected from Kerala and South Tamil Nadu coasts.
* MV Wan Hai 503: Suffered fire and explosions off the coast of Azhikkal on June 9, 2025. Mitigation measures were taken by the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, DG Shipping, and other authorities.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):
* The Ministry requested the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) to conduct a comprehensive EIA in coordination with the State Government of Kerala for the MSC Elsa 3 incident.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP):
* The Directorate General of Shipping issued a "SOP to Handle Marine Casualty 2021" for incidents involving shipwreck and oil spills.
* The Indian Coast Guard developed a National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) for responding to oil spill accidents.
Polluter Pays Principle:
* The Kerala State Government filed Admiralty Suit No. 12 of 2025 in the High Court of Kerala, seeking recovery of ₹9,531 crore from the owners of MSC Elsa 3.
Environmental Protection Act (EPA):
* State Governments, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and Collectors are authorized under Section 19 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), 1986, to register cases under the EPA, 1986.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change):
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing environmental impact assessments, coordinating with other agencies, and addressing parliamentary inquiries.
* Action Required: Continue coordinating environmental impact assessments and ensure adherence to SOPs.
Indian Coast Guard:
* Impact: Central Coordinating Agency for Combating of Oil Pollution and plays a role in mitigating environmental risks from maritime accidents.
* Action Required: Implement and maintain the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).
Directorate General of Shipping:
* Impact: Responsible for issuing and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures for marine casualties.
* Action Required: Ensure the effective implementation of the "SOP to Handle Marine Casualty 2021."
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM):
* Impact: Tasked with conducting environmental impact assessments.
* Action Required: Conduct a comprehensive EIA for the MSC Elsa 3 incident in coordination with the State Government of Kerala.
Kerala State Government:
* Impact: Directly affected by the environmental damage from the MSC Elsa 3 incident.
* Action Required: Coordinate with NCSCM on the EIA and pursue legal action to recover environmental restoration costs.
Shipping Companies (Owners of MSC Elsa 3 and MV Wan Hai 503):
* Impact: Potentially liable for environmental damage and cleanup costs.
* Action Required: Cooperate with investigations, address environmental damage claims, and implement measures to prevent future incidents.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection.
MSC Elsa 3: A foreign-flagged container vessel that sank off the coast of Alappuzha, Kerala in May 2025.
MV Wan Hai 503: A container ship that suffered a fire off the coast of Kannur, Kerala.
Environment Impact Assessment: A detailed assessment to study the impact on environment due to sinking of MSC Elsa 3.
Indian Coast Guard: The Central Coordinating Agency for Combating of Oil Pollution in the coastal and marine environment.
Kerala: A state in India where the MSC Elsa 3 sank off the coast of Alappuzha and MV Wan Hai 503 suffered fire off the coast of Kannur.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India, specifically its coast, where plastic nurdles from the MSC Elsa 3 incident were collected.
Environmental Protection Act, 1986: The Indian environmental law under which cases related to oil spills and chemical leaks are registered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 44
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Environment Impact of Sinking of Hazardous Cargo in Indian Sea
44. SHRI HIBI EDEN:
SHRI ANTO ANTONY:
ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the potential leakage of hazardous cargo,
chemicals, or oil from sunken or damaged foreign-flagged container vessels in Indian
waters, including the MSC Elsa 3 and MV Wan Hai 503, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted or initiated a detailed Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) following the sinking of a container vessel MSC Elsa 3 off the coast
of Kochi and the fire on a container ship MV Wan Hai 503 off the coast of Kannur, if
so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with
environmental emergencies resulting from maritime accidents such as oil spills,
chemical leaks, and plastic pellet dispersal, if so, the details thereof and if not, the
reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has invoked the polluter-pays principle to ensure that the
responsible shipping companies bear the full cost of environmental restoration, if so,
the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the total number of cases, such as oil spills, chemical leaks etc. registered under the
Environmental Protection Act in the country during the last three years and the current
year?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) On 25 May 2025, MSC ELSA 3 carrying 643 containers including hazardous materials
and marine fuels sank off the coast of Alappuzha. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is
Central Coordinating Agency for Combating of Oil Pollution in the coastal and marine
environment of various maritime zones. Light oil sheen noticed at the surface has been
dispersed by the standby vessel at the site and due to natural phenomenon of wave
action. Total of 66 containers washed ashore and have been recovered by the agency
appointed by the Ship owners. None of the 66 containers were having hazardous
cargoes hence there is no damage or hazard reported. Around 540 MT of plastic nurdles
have been collected from the Kerala Coast and South Tamil Nadu coast.In the case of MV Wan Hai 503, the container vessel suffered fire and explosions
approximately 44 nautical miles off the coast of Azhikkal on 09.06.2025. The Indian
Coast Guard, Indian Navy, DG Shipping and other concerned authorities have taken
proactive measures to contain and mitigate any potential environmental risks.
(b) The Ministry has requested National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management
(NCSCM), Tamil Nadu to undertake a comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment
in coordination with State Government of Kerala for MSC ELSA 3 incident.
(c) The Directorate General of Shipping has issued a Standard Operating Procedure titled
“SOP to Handle Marine Casualty 2021”, which outlines the response framework for
incidents involving shipwreck, oil spills, and other marine casualties. The Indian Coast
Guard has developed a National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP) for
responding to Oil Spill accidents. The NOS-DCP is a comprehensive tool, which
provides a framework of co-ordination for integrated response by various government
agencies to protect the environment from deleterious effects of pollution.
(d) In the case of MSC ELSA 3, the Kerala State Government has filed Admiralty Suit No.
12 of 2025 before the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala, seeking recovery of ₹9,531 crore
from the vessel owners.
(e) The Ministry has authorised the State Governments viz. the Government of the State
(represented by the Secretary to the State Government incharge of environment),
Chairman and Member Secretary State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and
Collector etc. for the purpose of the Section 19 of Environment Protection Act (EPA),
1986 to register a case under EPA, 1986.
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