Second ship accident off Kerala coast

Before Kerala recovered from the shock of a major ship accident two weeks ago, a second ship accident has happened off the coast of Kerala, throwing the entire state into deep panic. The MV Wan Hai 503, a cargo ship, caught fire and exploded 163 km from the Beypore coast and 81.4 km from Kannur Azhikkal. 18 out of 22 crew members were rescued. Two of them are in critical condition with burns. Four others are missing.

The ship is almost completely engulfed in flames. The ship, which returned from Colombo on Friday, was heading to Navi Mumbai. It is reported that there are more than one hundred and forty containers on the ship. More than twenty-five of these containers have fallen into the sea due to the impact of the explosion. These are also exploding. The ship is likely to sink soon. The fire on the ship has not yet been completely extinguished. The exact information about what is in the containers has not yet been released. Reports that the containers contain toxic substances that can cause serious environmental impact have panicked the residents of the northern coastal region. According to the 'Cargo Manifest' received by Customs, it is understood that there were containers filled with chemicals and pesticides on the ship.

20 containers contain only pesticides. The consequences of this mixing in the sea can only be understood through detailed studies and assessments. It has been confirmed that another container contains 4900 kilograms of chemicals that ignite when exposed to air. The main concern is how this will affect the use of fish resources. The second ship accident, like adding fuel to the flame, has occurred amid environmental problems and fears about pollution following the sinking of the MSC LSA-3 ship. The demand for fish had decreased significantly after the first accident. Such ship accidents are the first to hit the fishermen. Their livelihoods are disrupted in many ways for days.

The responsibility to pay compensation for shipwrecks lies with the shipping company as per international law. The authorities should first ensure whether these ships are properly insured and whether there has been any failure to renew the insurance. The compensation should be calculated scientifically and then demanded on the basis of evidence.

It cannot be said that accidents are deliberately created by someone. They happen. An investigation should be conducted into why this is happening. An investigation should also be conducted into whether ships are carrying more containers than the law requires. Similarly, the authorities should initiate legal proceedings to recover compensation from the ship owners. The central government should also provide interim relief. The two ship accidents and the subsequent 52-day ban on trawling have completely devastated the coast.