The Sinking of MSC ELSA 3: A Maritime Accident with Grave Environmental Consequences
On May 24, 2025 , the container vessel MSC ELSA 3 , flagged under Liberia , sank approximately 38 nautical miles (about 70 km) off the coast of Kerala , India. The ship was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it suffered a critical structural failure , leading to the flooding of one of its compartments and ultimately, its sinking in the Arabian Sea. While all 24 crew members were rescued safely in a timely and coordinated operation by the Indian Coast Guard , the incident has triggered widespread concern due to the vessel's hazardous cargo and large quantities of fuel. The environmental, ecological, and economic repercussions are beginning to unfold along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coastlines. What Was Onboard: A Recipe for Ecological Disaster At the time of its sinking, MSC ELSA 3 was carrying 640 containers , including: 13 containers of hazardous chemicals , the exact composition of which has not been publicly disclosed, 12 containers of calcium carbide , a chemical ...