Kochi: The Director General (DG) of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan dismissed the theory of sabotage behind the capsize of container vessel MSC Elsa 3 stating that the failure of the ship ballast management system which was crucial for the vessel’s stability was the reason why the ship sank.
Jagannathan also said that in 48 hours the containers that fell into the water when the ship capsized near the Kerala coast would be retrieved. He mentioned that the environmental impact of the oil spill is minimal and that the Coast Guard is in the process of cleaning it. Jagannathan said that the oil in the ship bunker will be removed by July 3.
Chief surveyor of the Union government Ajith Sukumaran stated that after the initial inference, they were able to gather that the ship sank because of a mechanical failure of the ballast management system, TNIE reported.
He pointed out that the vessel was in compliance with international norms including the safety and environmental requirements of ships which are governed by norms set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
It was suggested that there is no indication of alternative causes, and the failure of the ballast system might be from a lack of operational understanding. Reportedly, when the vessel tilted to a 26-degree angle, a total loss of power occurred due to the failure of internal power generation, which is believed to have severely hindered the ship’s overall functionality.
Out of the 13 containers carrying hazardous cargo, 12 had calcium carbide, while one had rubber chemical antioxidants, Jagannathan said.