MSC Elsa 3, carrying hazardous cargo, capsised off Kochi; 21 of 24 crew rescued as Indian Navy, Coast Guard lead operations.
Kochi, May 25: The Panama-flagged cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3, carrying hazardous materials, capsised in the Arabian Sea about 40 nautical miles off the Kochi coast on May 24. The vessel, reportedly en route to Nhava Sheva, experienced instability amid rough sea conditions. Indian Coast Guard and Navy units swiftly launched a joint search and rescue operation. As of Saturday evening, 21 of the 24 crew members were rescued, while efforts to trace the remaining three are ongoing.
Authorities are particularly concerned due to the vessel’s hazardous cargo, prompting pollution control teams to be deployed at the site. No significant leakage has been reported so far, but surveillance continues. The Directorate General of Shipping has launched an investigation into the cause. Notably, MSC Elsa 3 was previously involved in a collision incident near the Suez Canal in 2016.
Sources: The Hindu, Indian Coast Guard Official X Account, MarineTraffic Data for MSC Elsa 3, DG Shipping India
