Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indian Navy conducted major mid-sea rescue operation off Kerala coast after a Liberian container ship sank due to flooding, an official statement said on Sunday.
According to the statement, released by the Defence PRO, all 24 crew members on board Liberian container ship — MSC ELSA 3 were safely rescued.
It said that 21 crew members were recused by the Indian Coast Guard and three by the Indian Navy’s INS Sujata.
The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. It also had large quantities of fuel—84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, it said.
The statement further said that the vessel, travelling from Vizhinjam to Kochi, developed a 26-degree tilt to one side on 24 May, around 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi. It sent a distress call after losing stability. The ICG’s Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) in Kochi quickly responded. An ICG Dornier aircraft spotted two liferafts with survivors, and ICG patrol ships along with merchant vessels MV Han Yi and MSC Silver 2 joined the rescue.
By evening, 21 crew members — including sailors from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines — were rescued. Three senior crew stayed onboard to help with salvage plans. However, the ship’s condition worsened, and it sank around 7:50 am today, forcing the remaining crew to abandon it. They were rescued by INS Sujata.
Due to the hazardous cargo and fuel on board, the ICG has activated its pollution response plan. An ICG aircraft with oil spill detection systems is monitoring the area, and ICG ship Saksham, equipped with anti-pollution gear, is on site. So far, no oil spill has been detected.
“Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along the 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 cause of the ship’s tilt is still under investigation, it said.
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