The Liberian-flagged containership MSC ELSA 3 capsized and subsequently sank off the coast of Kochi at approximately 07:50 on 25 May 2025, after developing a 26-degree list to starboard. All 24 crew members were rescued—21 by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and three by the Indian Navy vessel INS Sujata.
Operated by MSC Ship Management, the 184-metre vessel had departed Vizhinjam Port on 23 May and was en route to Kochi, with an expected arrival on 24 May. The incident occurred around 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, after the ICG received a distress alert indicating the vessel was listing severely due to flooding in one of the holds. At the time of the incident, MSC ELSA 3 was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous materials and 12 with calcium carbide. The 28-year-old vessel also had 367.1t of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 84.4t of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) on board.
In response to the sinking, the Indian Coast Guard activated...
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