Seven foreign crew members of the MSC Elsa 3, a containership that sank off the Kerala coast, have sought permission from the Kerala High Court to return to their home countries nearly a year after the incident. The ship, which capsized on May 25, 2025, while traveling from Vizhinjam port to Kochi, caused significant marine pollution, prompting compensation claims exceeding ₹9,500 crore against the vessel’s owner and operator. Thankfully, all 24 crew members were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard.
Following the sinking, the Mercantile Marine Department in Kochi instructed the crew not to leave the city without written consent, and it was reported that their passports were confiscated during the investigation. The petition was filed by the ship’s captain, Ivanov Alexander, alongside six other crew members from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines. They claimed to have cooperated with investigators for nearly 11 months, noting that no charges have been filed against most of them, with only the captain named in the police indictment.
The crew argued that their ongoing detention is unwarranted, highlighting that while 15 crew members were permitted to return home in August 2025, they were not granted the same exemption despite multiple requests on humanitarian grounds. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas has directed responses from relevant authorities before a hearing scheduled for May 29.
The shipwreck led to environmental concerns as it carried hazardous materials, including calcium carbide and plastic nurdles. Authorities managed to recover about 630 metric tons of debris, emphasizing environmental and economic repercussions, particularly for local fishing communities. Environmental groups have noted that remnants from the wreck, including plastic nurdles, continue to wash ashore along Kerala’s coast, raising concerns about ongoing marine pollution.
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