Kochi: A Liberian flagged vessel encountered a mishap leading to the fall of potentially dangerous cargo approximately southwest off Kochi.
The fall of the material, about 38 nautical miles southwest off Kochi, has led the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issuing the extraordinary alert on Saturday.
The KSDMA issued the warning to the public after the Coast Guard reported a possible leakage of dangerous substances from the vessel.
At around 1.25 pm, the MSC ship management sent distress signals seeking help after one of their ships developed a dangerous 26-degree tilt.
The vessel was sailing at a speed of 11.7 knots and was expected to arrive at 4.30 pm on Saturday.
Nine of the 24 crew members onboard a cargo vessel had abandoned the ship and taken refuge in liferafts. Efforts are being made to safely rescue the remaining 15 personnel from the vessel.
The Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy ship and two Coast Guard ships are engaged in the rescue operation.
The Directorate General of Shipping, in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, has issued directives to the ship’s managers to urgently arrange salvage operations to stabilise and recover the vessel.
KSDMA has warned the public to keep off from objects getting washed ashore on the Kerala coast.
While KSDMA is awaiting a final confirmation from the Coast Guard on the type of cargo, it is suspected that the containers contain marine gas oil and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).
Ship mishap in Kochi
