8 Containers From Capsized Ship Spotted Along Kerala Coast, WATCH

The Liberian-flagged vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank on Sunday, and now containers from the ship are being discovered along coastal stretches, raising serious concerns among authorities and residents.

The Liberian-flagged vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank on Sunday, and now containers from the ship are being discovered along coastal stretches.

Source : ANI/X

A major environmental and safety alert has been triggered along Kerala’s coast after containers from a sunken cargo ship began washing ashore. The Liberian-flagged vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank on Sunday, and now containers from the ship are being discovered along coastal stretches, raising serious concerns among authorities and residents.

Containers from sunken MSC ELSA 3 recovered

Coastal police have confirmed that several containers have already been spotted in Kollam and Alappuzha districts. “The total number of containers washed ashore is not yet known, and authorities are working to manage the situation,” officials said.

What makes the situation particularly dangerous is that the ship was carrying 640 containers, 13 of which held hazardous materials. Authorities have issued strong warnings to the public to stay away from the washed-up containers.

“Some containers were carrying dangerous substances such as calcium carbide, a chemical that reacts with seawater to release highly flammable acetylene gas,” officials cautioned.

 

#WATCH | Kerala: 8 containers of Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 (IMO NO. 9123221) that sank off Kochi due to flooding on 24th May were spotted at Kollam Coast.

All the 24 crew were rescued safely; 21 by the Indian Coast Guard and 03 by INS Sujata: Indian Coast… pic.twitter.com/26kOzkqaog

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2025

MSC ELSA 3 Hazard

The sinking of MSC ELSA 3, which was en route from Vizhinjam to Cochin Port, has also led to a major oil spill, threatening the region’s fragile marine ecosystem. According to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the vessel had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil on board.

“After the sinking of the ship, the fuel is drifting at a speed of around three kilometres per hour,” the ICG noted.

Officials have further warned that the oil leak could pose a health hazard to humans if safety protocols are not followed.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and the state government have issued a public advisory, urging fishermen to stay off the sea and exercise caution.

The vessel had tilted 26 degrees to its starboard side approximately 38 nautical miles southwest off the Kochi coast before sinking. Fortunately, all 24 crew members on board were safely rescued by the Indian Navy’s INS Sujata.