26 May 2025

On the afternoon of May 25, the Indian Ministry of Defence officially confirmed that the Liberian-flagged container ship 'MSC ELSA 3' had sunk off the coast of Kochi earlier that day. Alarmingly, most of the containers on board were carrying hazardous goods, which have now been confirmed to have fallen into the sea.

The vessel sank along with 640 containers, including 13 carrying hazardous materials and 12 containing calcium carbide (commonly known as carbide or acetylene-generating compound). It was also loaded with 84.44 tons of diesel fuel and 367.1 tons of furnace oil.

A notable characteristic of calcium carbide is its highly reactive nature with water. Upon contact, it undergoes an exothermic reaction, producing acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂).

All 24 crew members on board were reported safe. Of these, 21 were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), while three—including the Russian captain and the ship's chief engineer—were rescued by the Indian Navy vessel INS Sujata. According to official reports, the ship, bearing IMO number 9123221, sank at approximately 7:50 AM on May 25.

The image shows the vessel listing heavily at sea

Due to the sensitive marine ecosystem along the Kerala coast, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) activated a full-scale pollution response alert. An ICG aircraft equipped with an advanced oil spill detection system is conducting aerial surveillance, while the ICG ship Saksham, carrying pollution response equipment, remains deployed at the site. So far, no oil spill incidents have been reported.

The emergency began on May 24, when the vessel developed a 26-degree list while en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi. At the time, it was located approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi and lost stability, prompting the crew to issue a distress call.

The vessel later sank, carrying multiple containers filled with hazardous materials.

The Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in Kochi immediately launched a coordinated emergency response. A Dornier aircraft was deployed for aerial surveillance and successfully spotted two life rafts with survivors. Subsequently, ICG patrol vessels, along with merchant ships MV Han Yi and MSC Silver 2, were redirected to assist the stranded crew, following international search and rescue protocols.

By late evening on May 24, 21 out of 24 crew members—including nationals from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines—had been rescued. The remaining three senior officers stayed on board to support ongoing salvage efforts. However, the vessel’s condition deteriorated overnight, and it capsized in the early hours of May 25. The remaining crew were forced to abandon ship and were rescued by the Indian Navy vessel INS Sujata. The cause of the vessel’s list remains undetermined, according to a statement from the Indian Ministry of Defence.

The capsizing of the vessel—and the loss of several containers containing hazardous materials—has triggered widespread concern along the Kerala coastline. In response, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a special advisory on the evening of May 24. Residents living near coastal areas have been warned not to approach or touch any cargo that may wash ashore.

Source: VOV