Coast Guard on high alert as container ship with hazardous cargo sinks near Kochi

A major maritime incident unfolded off the coast of Kochi early Sunday as the container vessel MSC ELSA 3, flagged under Liberia, capsized and sank. The vessel, carrying hazardous cargo and large quantities of fuel, sank approximately 38 nautical miles from the coast. All 24 crew members onboard were successfully rescued by coordinated efforts of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy.

The ship was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it developed a severe 26-degree starboard tilt, placing it at imminent risk of capsizing. A distress alert was received by the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in Kochi on Saturday, triggering an immediate multi-agency rescue response under international Search and Rescue (SAR) protocols.

Of the 24 crew, 12 were rescued by ICG ship Arnvesh, nine by merchant vessel MV Han Yi, and the remaining three — the captain, chief engineer, and second engineer — were retrieved by Indian Navy’s INS Sujata just before the vessel sank early Sunday.

The 184-meter-long ship was loaded with 640 containers, including 13 marked as hazardous and 12 containing calcium carbide. It was also carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil — materials that pose a serious environmental risk in the event of a leak.

Pollution response teams are on high alert, and ICG aircraft with oil spill detection equipment are actively monitoring the waters around the wreck site. So far, no oil spill has been reported, but the situation remains under close surveillance.

The Indian Coast Guard has intensified aerial and sea-based surveillance in the region. “We remain on standby to respond to any environmental impact or spill that may arise,” said an ICG official. The cause of the vessel's instability remains under investigation.

This incident underscores the importance of prompt maritime emergency response systems and inter-agency coordination to prevent loss of life and mitigate environmental threats.