A Liberian container vessel, MSC ELSA 3, sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday, due to flooding. All 24 crew members on board were rescued, 21 by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and three by the Indian Navy's INS Sujata. (Pics/ Defence PRO)
Updated On: 2025-05-25 04:13 PM IST
Compiled by : Anushree Gaikwad
The vessel was also loaded with 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil
Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala’s coast, ICG has activated full pollution response preparedness
ICG aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill detection systems are conducting aerial surveillance, and ICG ship Saksham, carrying pollution response equipment, remains deployed at the site. So far, no oil spill has been reported
The emergency began on Saturday, when MSC ELSA 3, en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi, developed a 26-degree starboard list approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi
ICG’s Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) in Kochi immediately launched a coordinated response
An ICG Dornier aircraft was deployed for aerial surveillance, spotting two liferafts with survivors. ICG patrol ships and merchant vessels MV Han Yi and MSC Silver 2 were also diverted to assist, in line with global Search and Rescue protocols
