Kochi ship accident
Kochi: Liberian cargo ship, which was carrying a total of 640 containers, including 13 containers filled with dangerous materials, drowned in the sea near the Kerala coast on Sunday morning. The sinking of the ship has led to a massive oil leakage in the sea. In view of this, the Kerala government has issued an alert across the state and advised fishermen not to go to the sea. It is said that the Coast Guard is working to prevent oil leakage. The Navy ship has rescued all 24 members aboard the sinking ship.
Dangerous oil is leakage
The Coast Guard informed that the ship ‘MSc ELSA 3’ began to bend rapidly on the morning of 25 May 2025 and finally drowned after overturning. This incident has led to a lot of oil leakage, in which fuel is flowing at a speed of about three kilometers per hour. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said that the ship tanks had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tons ‘furnace oil’, in addition to dangerous substances such as calcium carbide in the container.
How dangerous is calcium carbide
The ICG stated that calcium carbide is a chemical that reacts with sea water to emit highly flammable acetylene gas. A meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Secretary A. Jayatilak confirmed a lot of oil leakage from the ship and an alert has been issued in the entire state. According to an official note issued after the meeting, the leaked fuel is spreading at a speed of about three kilometers per hour.
If calcium carbide comes in contact with water, it triggers a rapid and acute chemical reaction. This reaction makes acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide and releases a lot of heat. Since acetylene is a highly flammable gas, this reaction can be dangerous, especially in places where large amounts of calcium carbide are stored or handled.
Calcium hydroxide is released from the reaction between calcium carbide and water, which increases the alkalinity of water. This increase in pH can disturb the aquatic ecosystem by affecting the health, reproduction and existence of aquatic species.
Special advice has been given to citizens
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has also warned the general public from touching any container or oil leakage that can come to the shore. He has also urged people to inform the police immediately if they see any container or oil on the shore. According to the Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), there is a possibility that the material (including containers and oil) can flow on the coast. KSDMA has also warned that oil layers may appear in parts of the coast.
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