MSC ELSA 3 container ship tilts in Arabian Sea amid rough weather; 10 containers fall into Kochi Sea, 21 crew members rescued

KOCHI: Cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 tilted in the Arabian Sea amid rough weather and turbulence. Ten containers filled with marine gas oil and very low-sulfur fuel oil fell into the deep sea.

Out of 24 crew members, 21 were rescued around 8 PM through a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy. The captain, chief engineer, and second engineer remain on board. All crew members will be safely evacuated and brought to Kochi. The captain is a Russian national, while the others include 20 Filipinos, 2 Ukrainians, and 1 Georgian.

The incident occurred yesterday around noon, 38 nautical miles (about 70 km) southwest off the Kochi coast. Marine gas oil and sulfur fuel oil are hazardous substances. The Disaster Management Authority has warned that the containers, which might drift toward the Kerala coast, should not be touched under any circumstances.

The feeder vessel, carrying 600 containers, had departed from Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday evening, heading toward Kochi. It had arrived in Vizhinjam from Thoothukudi, offloaded some containers there, and then took on others from the mother ship. The ship was scheduled to arrive in Kochi Port by 4:30 PM yesterday, but encountered the accident at 1:25 PM, as it neared the Kochi coast.

Upon receiving the distress call from the captain, the Indian Coast Guard and Navy immediately launched rescue efforts. Coast Guard vessels, along with Navy ships ICG Arnvesh, ICG Saksham, and INS Sujata, and a Dornier aircraft, rushed to the location.

Nine crew members wearing life jackets had jumped into the sea and were rescued first. Later, 15 more were rescued and shifted to a Coast Guard vessel, where they received first aid. Two Coast Guard vessels and Navy aircraft continue to monitor the ship's condition.

Ship tilted 26 degrees but will not
The ship has tilted 26 degrees to the port (left) side, but according to the Navy, its condition is stable in the open sea. There were initial fears of it sinking, but those have subsided. Authorities are exploring whether another ship can be brought in to transfer the remaining containers.

If a container is found – call 112
If anyone spots a container or a suspicious item on the shore, they should immediately inform the police or call the emergency number 112. There is also a possibility of oil leakage, and fishermen and coastal residents are advised to remain alert.

MSC ELSA 3

• Length: 183.91 meters
• Width: 25.3 meters
• Capacity: 1,027 containers
• Gross weight: 16,799 tons
• Flag: Liberian

The ship is registered under the Liberian flag, which does not necessarily mean it belongs to Liberia. Most cargo ships are registered in Liberia for tax benefits.