India calls for IMO probe into international cargo ship incidents | India Information – Instances of India

NEW DELHI: India strongly demanded that the Worldwide Maritime Organisation (IMO) undertake a complete investigation and international evaluation of all maritime incidents involving foreign-flagged container vessels working in Indian waters. It mentioned these incidents, attributable to undeclared hazardous cargoes, and structural and stability points, have raised severe security issues.Taking part within the 134th session of the Council of the IMO, port and transport secretary T Ok Ramachandran underscored the necessity to reinforce worldwide protocols associated to packaging, declaration, stowage, and monitoring of lithium-ion batteries and Worldwide Maritime Harmful Items (IMDGs).In an announcement, the port and transport ministry mentioned, “India delivered a principled assertion addressing latest maritime incidents involving foreign-flagged container vessels working in Indian waters.”Citing the proactive function of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard in guaranteeing the protection of life at sea, the assertion mentioned India known as for pressing enhancements within the security framework for container transport. India additionally proposed the institution of IMO-led investigations into such incidents to assist construct international greatest practices, enhance standardisation, and strengthen operational norms that guarantee the protection and safety of container ship operations internationally.There have been severe maritime incidents alongside India’s shoreline that uncovered vulnerabilities within the present emergency response framework. The sinking of the container ship MSC ELSA 3 in Might 2025 and the most important hearth and explosion on the container ship WAN HAI 503 in June 2025, off the coast of Kerala, led to the lack of a number of containers within the waters and the discharge of hazardous cargo and vital environmental danger.