Within hours of the vessel’s submergence, ICG surveillance aircraft detected an oil slick at the site. ICG Ship Saksham, already stationed in pollution response configuration, was deployed immediately. An ICG Dornier aircraft conducted aerial assessments and dispersed Oil Spill Dispersant (OSD) across the affected zone. By late morning on May 25, the oil slick was spotted drifting east-southeast from the site of the sinking at a speed of 1.5 to 2 knots. Rough sea conditions and strong winds made response efforts more challenging. Despite the hazardous situation, with over 100 cargo containers floating in the area, some breaking apart and releasing their contents, ICG continued operations with full effect. A coordination meeting was convened by the Directorate General of Shipping on 25 May 2025, bringing together key stakeholders, including ICG, vessel owners, managers, Kerala state authorities, SDMA, and others to implement an integrated response strategy. Ship managers M/s MSC have appointed M/s T&T Salvage for cleanup and recovery operations, including container and cargo retrieval and oil removal from the wreck. The Mercantile Marine Department, Kochi, issued a pollution liability warning to the vessel owners, M/s MSC, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The MSC appointed T&T Salvage for container recovery, oil removal, and environmental clean-up. The ICG also advised the Kerala state administration to prepare for shoreline clean-up and to alert local communities not to handle any cargo or debris that may wash ashore.
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