Chemical container threat looms over Kerala's coastal belt

KOCHI: Concern looms over the coastal area as chemical containers from a ship that caught fire off the Kannur coast started washing ashore. This burden comes in addition to the already imposed trawling.

A gas container sank off the Kakkazham coast at around 5.30 am on Monday, along the Ambalapuzha bend. Panic struck after reports emerged that it was a portable tanker with liquefied and cryogenic gas from the Eurotainer company.

The concerns were allayed when District Collector Alex Varghese reached the spot and spoke to the customs authorities in Kochi. He cleared the air saying that the containers were empty long before they reached these waters.

A lifeboat and a barrel were found floating in Punnapra and Chellanam. The Disaster Management Authority is trying to remove them. An alert has been issued not to go within 200 meters of the container.

It is reported that more than 25 containers have fallen into the sea. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned that these will float between Thalassery and Karunagappally, Kollam, within two to three days.

The ship's owner, Wan Hai Lines, only tasked a Gujarat-based private company with extinguishing the fire on the ship and preventing the oil spill.

Dr. R. Venugopal, former Joint Chief Controller of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), said that scientific methods can be used if the containers are stranded.

• Gas containers can be taken to bottling plants with the help of experts from oil companies like Indian Oil Corporation and the gas can be exchanged.

• If it is a hazardous chemical like ammonia, it can be taken to companies like FACT and neutralized.

• Since there is a possibility of collision of containers, it should be ensured that there is no rupture or leakage.

The fire on the ship, which has been towed more than 65 nautical miles from the coast, has not been extinguished. Heavy smoke is rising. The Coast Guard, Navy and a contractor are continuing their efforts. Navy sources said that the rescue operation has been hampered by rough seas and heavy snow.