Ship Disasters Off Kerala Spark Calls for Stricter Oversight

Two high-profile maritime incidents off India’s southwestern coast have ignited public concern and renewed debate over regulating aging vessels in the country’s waters.

Criminal Case Filed Over MSC Elsa 3 Capsize

Nearly three weeks after the 28-year-old container ship MSC Elsa 3 capsized off the Kerala coast, local authorities have filed a criminal case against Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), along with the vessel’s captain and crew. The decision comes in response to growing criticism over the government’s handling of the incident and the environmental damage it has caused.

The 1997-built vessel was en route from Vizhinjam Port to Kochi when it sank on May 25, approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Alappuzha. On board were more than 600 containers, including dangerous goods and large quantities of marine diesel.

In the days following the incident, containers were found scattered along Kerala’s shoreline. Plastic nurdles—a type of pre-production plastic pellet—have polluted beaches in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, while minor oil slicks have been observed off Alappuzha. Authorities have charged MSC and the crew with reckless navigation and negligence.

Wan Hai 503 Blaze Adds to Maritime Chaos

Simultaneously, another maritime emergency has unfolded nearby. The Wan Hai 503, a 20-year-old containership, caught fire off Kerala’s coast on June 10 and remains engulfed in smoke. Despite intense firefighting efforts by the Indian Coast Guard and a team from the Marine Emergency Response Centre, the ship is considered a likely constructive total loss.

The blaze broke out between Beypore and Azhikkal and continues to burn in proximity to the vessel’s fuel tanks, which contain 2,000 tonnes of fuel oil and 240 tonnes of diesel. Due to the risk of a major explosion, initial plans to tow the ship to New Mangalore Port have been abandoned.

Environmental Risks and Rescue Efforts Ongoing

INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services) has warned that containers dislodged during the fire could drift toward Kerala’s shores, particularly between Kozhikode and Thrissur, as well as toward southern Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Although the vessel remains structurally intact aside from a 15-degree list to port, it still holds 143 containers with hazardous cargo—raising significant safety and environmental concerns.

Of the 22 crew aboard, 18 have been rescued. Four remain missing—two from Taiwan, one from Indonesia, and one from Myanmar. Ongoing aerial and maritime search efforts continue. Among the five reported injured, one Chinese crew member has been discharged from hospital, while two others are still receiving intensive care in Mangaluru.

As these incidents unfold, they are prompting fresh scrutiny of vessel age, safety protocols, and environmental preparedness along India’s shipping routes.