The Indian Coast Guard has rescued 21 out of 24 crew members from the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3, which issued a distress call while approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi in the Arabian Sea. The 184-meter vessel, having departed Vizhinjam Port on May 23, encountered a critical tilt of 26 degrees around 1:25 PM on Saturday, posing serious risks to the crew and raising environmental concerns due to the potential loss of cargo.
In response, the Coast Guard deployed ships and aircraft to the scene, with aerial teams dropping life rafts to facilitate the crew’s evacuation. While 21 crew members were successfully rescued, the Captain, Chief Engineer, and Second Engineer remained onboard to manage ongoing salvage operations.
As a result of the vessel’s tilt, some containers have already fallen into the sea. A risk assessment is underway, and the Directorate General of Shipping has instructed the vessel’s managers to initiate urgent salvage efforts to mitigate further environmental impact. Coast Guard ships and aircraft continue to monitor the situation, focusing on stabilizing the vessel and ensuring the safety of the remaining crew.
