MSC Elsa 3 Sinks Off Kerala Coast: Environmental Concerns and Rescue Operations
The Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa 3 has sunk about 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, raising concerns about potential environmental impacts along the coast of Kerala.
The 28-year-old vessel, measuring 184 meters in length and en route from Vizhinjam to the Port of Cochin, began to list severely early on Saturday. The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, and over 450 metric tonnes of marine fuel. It ultimately capsized and sank on Sunday morning, approximately 14,6 nautical miles offshore.
The vessel issued a distress call at 08:00 UTC on Saturday after reporting a 26-degree list to starboard. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard responded quickly, rescuing 21 crew members on Saturday and the remaining three early Sunday as conditions deteriorated.
“The weather was rough, and there must have been some internal issues within the vessel,” stated Captain Alexander Ivanov, the ship’s master. “We are grateful to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for their efforts and flawless communication.”
The incident has prompted a significant environmental response. It is believed that over 100 containers have fallen into the Arabian Sea, with at least 25 confirmed to be adrift, moving at an estimated speed of 3 km/h toward coastal areas including Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Some of these containers contain hazardous substances like calcium carbide, leading to urgent coastal alerts. Several containers have already washed ashore, although the total number remains uncertain.
Source: India Coast Guard
Authorities have confirmed the leakage of marine fuels, including 367,1 tonnes of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 84,44 tonnes of diesel. While no significant oil slick has been reported yet, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed two vessels and a Dornier aircraft to monitor the situation and spray chemical dispersants. This operation is being conducted under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan.
The MSC Elsa 3, built in Germany in 1997 and operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has a troubled maritime history. Previously known as Jan Richter, the vessel has undergone nine name changes and was involved in a collision near Yemen in 2016 and a pirate attack near Nigeria in 2021.
Vessels in the area have been advised to avoid the last known position of the sunken ship and to remain vigilant for drifting containers and potential fuel slicks.
