A major maritime emergency unfolded off the coast of Kochi on Saturday as 21 crew members aboard the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 were rescued after the vessel developed a dangerous 26-degree tilt, prompting a large-scale response from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
The incident occurred approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi. The 184-meter-long container vessel, which had departed from Vizhinjam Port on May 23 and was en route to Kochi, began listing sharply by early Saturday afternoon. Around 1:25 p.m., the ship’s operator, MSC Ship Management, alerted Indian maritime authorities and requested immediate assistance.
The ICG responded swiftly, dispatching ships and deploying aircraft to the site of the incident. Aerial units dropped additional liferafts to support the evacuation process.
By 8:00 p.m., 21 crew members had been safely evacuated. However, three key personnel, the Captain, Chief Engineer, and Second Engineer, remained onboard to assist with ongoing salvage operations.
Authorities confirmed that several containers had fallen overboard as a result of the vessel’s tilt. The situation remains under close observation, with Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft continuing to monitor and coordinate stabilization efforts.
“Risk assessment is in progress. All efforts are being made to maintain the vessel’s stability,” officials stated, adding that the top priority is to ensure the safety of those still onboard and prevent any potential environmental or navigational hazards.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) has directed the vessel’s managers to arrange for immediate salvage operations in coordination with the Coast Guard.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the tilt, while salvage teams prepare to secure the vessel and recover the lost containers.
