A Liberian-flagged container vessel, MSC ELSA 3, partially capsized approximately 38 nautical miles off the Kochi coast on Saturday (25 May) after developing a significant list. This incident prompted an extensive rescue and environmental monitoring operation coordinated by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy. All 24 crew members were successfully rescued.
The vessel departed from Vizhinjam port on Friday and was en route to Kochi when it began listing at an angle of up to 26 degrees. A distress signal was received at approximately 1:30 AM on Saturday, leading to the immediate deployment of one Indian Navy ship, two Coast Guard vessels, and a Dornier aircraft for response operations.
Of the 24 crew members onboard, 21 were evacuated via life rafts initially. The remaining three crew members, including the ship’s master (a Russian national), chief engineer, and second engineer, remained onboard to assist with salvage planning. The crew consisted of 20 Filipino nationals, two Ukrainians, and one Georgian.
The vessel's list caused multiple containers to fall into the sea. Initial assessments indicate that some of these containers may contain hazardous materials, raising concerns about potential environmental risks, including oil spills and hazardous debris washing ashore.
In response, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a statewide coastal alert, advising fishermen and residents to avoid contact with any drifting containers due to potential chemical or environmental hazards. Authorities emphasized the importance of refraining from handling unfamiliar maritime objects.
The Indian Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation through aerial and surface surveillance. A formal risk assessment is currently underway, and efforts are being made to stabilize the vessel and mitigate any environmental impact.
According to vessel tracking data, MSC ELSA 3 is a 184-meter-long container ship built in 1995 and has been operating under its current name since 2015. It has made multiple recent port calls to Vizhinjam.
