Container Ship Capsizes Off Kochi, Crew Rescued Safely

A container ship, MSC ELSA 3, overturned approximately 38 nautical miles from the shore of Kochi, Kerala. All 24 crew members have been successfully rescued, thanks to swift action by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

The ship, which had departed from Vizhinjam Port on May 23 and was scheduled to reach Kochi by early afternoon on May 25, is believed to have capsized after its cargo holds flooded. The flooding caused the vessel to list severely before ultimately sinking.

Rescue operations began promptly. The ICG managed to save 21 crew members during the day, while the remaining three—comprising the ship’s captain, chief engineer, and second engineer—were rescued later that evening by the Indian naval ship INS Sujata, which had joined the mission. All crew members are confirmed to be safe and in good condition.

As the vessel capsized, a large number of its containers were lost overboard. Out of the 640 containers onboard, 12 were carrying calcium carbide, a chemical that can ignite or explode upon contact with water. This substance is also hazardous to marine life due to its potential to raise the pH of seawater.

Additionally, the ship had been carrying 84.44 metric tons of diesel and about 376.1 tons of furnace oil. While there is potential for environmental damage, no pollution or oil spills have been detected at this time.

To prevent environmental fallout, the ICG has deployed surveillance aircraft capable of detecting oil slicks and continues to monitor the waters closely. Emergency response teams along the coasts of Kochi, Thrissur, and Alappuzha are standing by should any environmental threats arise.