A Liberia-flagged container vessel capsized and sank off the coast of Kerala in India on Sunday, triggering a significant environmental emergency amid fears of oil spillage and the release of hazardous materials.
According to multiple confirmed sources, the 300-metre-long MSC Elsa 3 developed a severe list on Saturday, 24 May, while navigating through rough monsoon weather approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi.
The vessel subsequently sank in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Elsa 3 was en route from Vizhinjam port – India’s newly operational transshipment hub – to Cochin’s Vallarpadam terminal when the incident occurred. At the time, the vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing hazardous cargo and 12 loaded with calcium carbide, a chemical known to emit flammable gas upon contact with water.
The Loadstar and various other sources reported that environmental officials had expressed deep concern over the potential contamination of marine ecosystems. The vessel had more than 450 metric tonnes of marine fuel on board, comprising 367.1 tonnes of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil and 84.44 tonnes of diesel. Authorities have confirmed that both fuels have begun leaking into the surrounding waters.
A joint rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy successfully evacuated all 24 crew members before the vessel sank. Emergency services are now engaged in a large-scale environmental response, deploying ships and aircraft to contain and monitor the oil slick.
Coastal alerts have been issued for drifting containers, some of which have already washed ashore. Over 100 containers are believed to have fallen into the sea, including several carrying dangerous goods.
The Indian Coast Guard stated that an investigation was under way, while containment and recovery efforts remained ongoing. The situation has prompted heightened vigilance along Kerala’s coastline, with both local authorities and international observers closely monitoring developments.
The sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 marks one of the most serious maritime environmental threats in recent years for the region, drawing attention to the hazards posed by container shipping in extreme weather conditions and the urgent need for enhanced spill response preparedness.
