MSC ELSA 3 Container Ship Capsizes off Kochi Coast

A container vessel flagged under Liberia, MSC ELSA 3, that developed a significant list and partially capsized approximately 38 nautical miles off the Kochi coast on Saturday has capsized, prompting an extensive rescue and environmental monitoring operation led by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.

The vessel had departed from Vizhinjam port on Friday and was en route to Kochi when it began listing by up to 26 degrees. A distress call was received around 1:30 AM on Saturday, leading to the immediate deployment of one Indian Navy ship, two Coast Guard vessels, and a Dornier aircraft for response operations.

Of the 24 crew members on board, 21 were successfully evacuated via liferafts initially. The remaining three—comprising the ship’s master (a Russian national), chief engineer, and second engineer—remained onboard to assist with ongoing salvage planning. The rest of the crew included 20 Filipino nationals, two Ukrainians, and one individual from Georgia.

The vessel’s listing resulted in multiple containers falling into the sea. Initial assessments indicate that some of these containers may contain hazardous cargo, raising concerns about potential environmental risks, including oil slicks and hazardous debris washing ashore.

In response, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a statewide coastal alert, urging fishermen and residents to avoid contact with any containers that may drift toward the shoreline. Authorities emphasized the potential dangers and the importance of refraining from handling unfamiliar maritime objects that may pose chemical or environmental risks.

The Indian Coast Guard continues to oversee the situation through both aerial and surface monitoring. A formal risk assessment is underway, and efforts were made to stabilize the vessel and mitigate any environmental fallout.

According to vessel tracking data, MSC ELSA 3 is a 184-meter-long container ship, aged 28 years, which has made multiple recent port calls to Vizhinjam. It has been operating under the current name since its registration in 2015.