The decision to prepare the OSCP, which was initially mooted in 2016, was finalised after Kerala witnessed two incidents off its coast involving two separate vessels – MSC Elsa 3 and MV Wan Hai 503 (this picture) – on May 25 and June 9 respectively.
| Photo Credit: Indian Coast Guard PRO/ANI Photo
The Kerala government will frame an Oil Spill Contingency Plan (OSCP) after the recent two shipwrecks that raised a serious threat to the marine ecosystem and coastal environment.
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has awarded the work of preparing the plan to a Bangalore-based firm. It will include mapping of environmental sensitive index of oil spills along of the coast of Kerala and preparation of response-focussed oil spill contingency plans.
The work, which included preparation of plans for crisis management and marine emergency response, is expected to be completed in eight months as per the work order issued by the board to the firm on June 27, 2025. The work is expected to be completed within eight months.
The decision to prepare the OSCP, which was initially mooted in 2016, was finalised after Kerala witnessed two incidents off its coast involving two separate vessels – MSC Elsa 3 and MV Wan Hai 503 – on May 25, 2025 and June 9, 2025 respectively. It will include oil spill contingency planning guidelines, wildlife response plans, ship board pollution emergency plans and tactical oil spill booming/site response plans.
Mitigation measures
The OSCP will elaborate on the mitigation measures to be initiated in the wake of an emergency, policy and responsibility of various departments/agencies, oil spill risks and protection priorities, shoreline response operations, administrative action for shoreline clean-up, machines/equipment to be kept available in each department and database of authorities to be contacted in case of oil spills.
It will identify the areas involving operation of fishing boats and ships and map all areas along the State’s coast that are environmentally vulnerable. A detailed response plan with chain of command, duties and responsibilities, contact details, list of all available resources will be prepared. The plan will have the database of available machinery/ equipment for clean-up operations and details of the control equipment available in ports and harbours.
The OSCP will be prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the National Oil Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP) of 2015, 2018 and 2024.
Published – August 04, 2025 03:08 pm IST
