Lok Sabha Question No. 1111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Vessel Related Accidents
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1111

ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025

## VESSEL RELATED ACCIDENTS

## 1111.  SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- a) whether the Government is aware of recent ship or vessel-related accidents that occurred in the offshore areas of Kerala;
- b) if so, the details of such incidents reported during the last one year, indicating the date,  location,  nature  of  accident  and  loss  of  life,  property  or  environmental  damage caused;
- c) the steps taken by the Government to assess the impact of these accidents on marine ecology, coastal communities and fishing activities;
- d) whether any compensation or relief has been provided to the affected individuals, families or communities and if so, the details thereof; and
- e) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  inquiry  or  study  into  the  causes  and consequences of these offshore accidents and to prevent their recurrence in the future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) to (e) Yes, the Government is aware of recent ship or vessel-related accidents that occurred off the shore area of Kerala.The following ship or vessel-related incidents were reported particularly off the coast of Kerala within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, during the last one year.

1. 13 May 2024 SAGAR YUVRAJ (Cargo Vessel, India):

Location: Kerala Coast (10°33.800N, 075°48.640E)

Incident: Collision with a wooden fishing boat

Remarks: Commenced rescue operations; four persons were rescued and brought on board, while two others were reported missing.

2. 24 May 2025 MSC ELSA 3 (Container Ship, Liberia):

Location: 09°30.1'N, 075°46.638'E (13 NM off the Alappuzha, Kerala Coast)

Incident: Listing and subsequent sinking. All 26 crew members were rescued. No loss of life.

Consequence:  The  vessel  was  carrying  about  643  containers  which  included  13 containers  containing  hazardous  materials  classified  under  the  International  Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, along with 367 tonnes of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) & 64 tonnes of Diesel Oil.

Action taken to prevent environmental damage: A statutory Preliminary inquiry into the incident, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, is being conducted by the Mercantile Marine  Department  (MMD),  Kochi,  a  field  office  under  the  Directorate  General  of Shipping,  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and  Waterways  to  ascertain  the  causal  factors leading to the incident. The preliminary inquiry is currently in progress.

3. 09 June 2025 - WAN HAI 503 (Container Ship, Singapore):

Location: 44 NM from Azhikkal, Kerala Coast Incident: Fire in container due to explosion Remarks: 4 foreign national crew members missing; vessel adrift and emitting smoke due to fire; severe damage to the vessel; environmental risk has been prevented by towing the vessel away from the Indian EEZ. Salvage operations are ongoing to take the vessel

to Port of Refuge outside India.

## 4. 12 June 2025 INTERASIA TENACITY (Container Ship, Singapore):

Location: 50 NM off Kochi, Kerala Coast (10°03.5'N, 075°24.0'E)

Incident: Minor fire in one container

Remarks:  No injuries or environmental damage; Fire Extinguished by ship's crew.

Vessel proceeded to destined port JNPT and unloaded the damaged container.

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