Kerala hit by third maritime incident as court orders arrest of MSC ship

Kerala’s coast is witnessing an alarming spate of maritime mishaps, with a third ship-related incident reported within a span of weeks, prompting legal action, firefighting operations, and mounting concerns over environmental and economic fallout.

On Thursday, the Kerala High Court ordered the conditional arrest of MSC Manasa F, currently anchored at Vizhinjam Port, following a damages claim filed by Mangalath Cashews. The Kollam-based exporter alleges that its cargo, lost aboard the sunken MSC Elsa 3 off the Alappuzha coast last month, was under the operational control of Mediterranean Shipping Company, which also manages the MSC Manasa F.

A judge issued the arrest order after the petitioner, citing the imminent departure of the MSC Manasa F and MSC’s lack of physical assets in India, claimed $180,000 in damages. The order will be vacated only if the claimed amount is deposited in court or adequate security is furnished.

While the legal drama played out in a courtroom, another fire incident at sea was unfolding. On Thursday, a container onboard the Singapore-flagged Interasia Tenacity ignited while the ship was transiting off the Kerala coast en route from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra.

The vessel, carrying 1,387 containers and manned by 21 Filipino crew members, issued a distress call that prompted the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) into action.

The ship’s captain later reported the fire under control and declined further aid. Authorities confirmed no injuries, but the ICG continues to monitor the vessel’s condition, citing the recent pattern of accidents as cause for continued vigilance.

Meanwhile, a major emergency operation is still underway aboard the Singapore-flagged Wan Hai 503 (pictured), which caught fire on June 9 while located approximately 42 nautical miles off Beypore in the Arabian Sea.

The vessel’s fuel and hazardous cargo has posed a grave ecological risk, with dense smoke still emanating from its cargo hold days after the fire began.

On Thursday, an Indian Air Force helicopter dropped 2,600 kg of fire retardant chemical powder on the deck (see video below), successfully reducing visible flames. However, internal fires continue to smoulder.

The ICG has begun towing the ship into deeper waters to mitigate coastal risks, while the salvage firm T & T Salvage prepares to assume full control once conditions stabilise.

Search efforts remain ongoing for four missing crew members, while another tug has been dispatched to replace the Ocean Warrier, which returned to port due to a technical fault.

Additionally, oil removal from the sunken MSC Elsa 3 wreck—plugging bunker leaks and initiating hot tapping—is also underway, aiming to eliminate further pollution risks within three days.