Maritime Disasters

Posted 22 Jul 2025

Updated 28 Jul 2025

5 min read

India has urged International Maritime Organization (IMO) for Comprehensive Investigation and Global review of recent Maritime Incidents.

Maritime disasters encompass a wide range of incidents, including shipwrecks, collisions, groundings, fires, explosions, and oil spills.
- New types of risks include transport of hazardous chemical products, dangerous cargo, nuclear wastes, submarines and weapons, etc.
Recent Maritime Incidents:
- Sinking of Liberian-flagged vessel MSC ELSA 3 (Kochi coast):
  - After the accident, Tiny plastic pellets, known as 'nurdles', were found in large numbers along the coast of Thiruvananthapuram.
    - Classified as primary microplastics, these pellets (Between from 1 mm to 5 mm in diameter) can lead to habitat contamination and breaking into micro and nano plastics and entering food chain.
- Fire aboard MV Wan Hai 503 (Kerala Coast): Cargo of ship included calcium carbide, plastic pellets, heavy fuel oil etc. raising serious environmental concerns.

Consequences
- Environment: Marine pollution such as oil spills, plastic nurdles, loss of biodiversity, ballast water contamination, etc.
- Health: Toxic exposure from chemicals/oil can cause long-term health issues for cleanup workers and locals, etc.
- Economic loss and safety: Devaluation of the shores, beach cleanup operations, loss of coastal livelihoods, deteriorating tourism, etc.

Challenges in handling Maritime Incidents/Disasters

Inadequate Transparency in Cargo Declaration: Shippers often fail to properly disclose or even misdeclare the nature of goods, making it difficult for authorities to assess and mitigate risks.
Improper Handling of Hazardous Materials: Mishandling of hazardous items increases fire and environmental risks. Further, the lack of standardized practices in packaging and storage exacerbates the problem.
Complex ship ownership and management structures: (e.g., Liberia-flagged, German-owned, Cyprus-managed) dilute responsibility and weaken accountability.
Delayed Global Response and Regulatory Action: There is no urgent global mechanism to investigate such incidents and revise safety protocols. Regulatory reform is reactive rather than preventive.
Insurance Claims: Maritime insurance policies can be complex, and disputes may arise regarding coverage, liability, and the apportionment of costs.

Convention on International Trade in Dangerous Goods at Sea (IMDG Convention) - It contains regulations on the marking, packaging, loading and transportation of hazardous goods to ensure the safety of navigation and the prevention of accidents.
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974: Establishes minimum safety standards for ships, fire protection, navigation, operational safety.
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) and OPRC-HNS Protocol (2000): Requires countries to develop contingency plans and establish cooperation for oil spill response.
International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention): Regulates the use of harmful anti-fouling systems (substances used to prevent marine organisms from attaching to ships' hulls).
Ballast Water Management Convention: Prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens and preventing introduction of invasive species into new marine environments.
The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention): Ensures that recycled ships do not pose unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.

Merchant Shipping Act, 1958: For maritime safety, ship registration, crew welfare, pollution prevention, and maritime liabilities.
Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986: Used to enforce environmental safeguards against marine pollution, including oil spills and discharge of hazardous substances.
National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP): Administered by Indian Coast Guard, Provides operational protocols for responding to oil and hazardous chemical spills in the marine environment.
Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017: This Act provides a framework for handling maritime claims, including those arising from accidents and collisions, and defines the jurisdiction of courts in such matters.

Prevention Strategies
- Strict Regulation of Shipping: Strict enforcement of SOLAS convention and MARPOL regulations at the global level; monitor Indian waters more effectively as per the Merchant Shipping Act provisions.
- Risk Mapping & Zoning: Identify ecologically sensitive zones (e.g., CRZ, mangroves) and restrict oil transport nearby.
- Role of Technology & Transparency in cargo management: Electronic cargo tracking systems, Real-time monitoring of dangerous goods & Blockchain-based disclosures.
Reforms in IMO Regulations: Mandating full disclosure of beneficial ownership, enhanced flag state obligations, and clearer delineation of managerial versus operational control responsibilities.
Detection and Early Warning:
- Use coastal radars, drones, and satellites like ISRO's RISAT for surveillance.
- Mandate Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) on vessels to track movement in Indian waters.
Polluter Pays Principle: Implement liability rules under Indian and international laws to hold ship owners accountable.
Out of the court settlements and maritime negotiation and arbitration: To resolve maritime dispute expeditiously.
Training & Awareness: Capacity-building programs for port authorities and fishermen.