Shipping Desk: In a dramatic maritime incident on Sunday morning, the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA-3, operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), sank off the coast of Kerala. According to the Indian Coast Guard, the vessel, carrying 640 TEUs, went down at around 1:25 PM after water suddenly flooded one of its cargo holds.
The 184-meter-long container ship had departed from Vizhinjam Port and was en route to Kochi. The vessel lost stability, causing several containers to fall into the sea before the ship eventually capsized.
Out of the 640 containers onboard, 13 reportedly carried hazardous chemicals, while 12 others contained flammable materials such as calcium carbide. Additionally, the vessel was storing 84 metric tons of diesel and 367 metric tons of furnace oil, raising serious environmental concerns following the sinking.
Of the 24 crew members aboard, 21 were rescued early on by the Indian Coast Guard. The remaining three — the captain, chief engineer, and second engineer — stayed back to assist with emergency measures and were later rescued by the Indian Navy vessel Sujata. All crew members have been reported safe and in good health.
The Indian Coast Guard has deployed its anti-pollution vessel Saksham at the incident site. Aerial surveillance is being carried out using aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill detection technology. So far, no oil spill has been confirmed.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued advisories urging local residents and fishermen not to touch any drifting containers, packets, or debris that may wash ashore. Citizens have been asked to report any oil sheen or container sightings immediately to 999 or the local coastal police.
Alerts have been issued for the coastal districts of Thrissur, Alappuzha, and Kochi. Emergency response teams and cleanup crews are on standby for any environmental fallout or maritime hazard.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels are closely monitoring the area. Coastal surveillance has been intensified to track the drift and direction of the lost containers.
This incident has once again raised pressing questions about global shipping safety and risk management, especially when dangerous materials are transported by sea. Such accidents pose a significant threat to marine and coastal ecosystems.
MSC, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, has seen several of its vessels involved in incidents or attacks in recent months — from the Red Sea to Newfoundland, the Strait of Hormuz, and now the Kerala coast — amplifying global concerns over maritime safety and environmental protection.
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