The small container ship "MSC Elsa 3" (built in 1997, flagged Liberia) capsized and sank off the Indian coast on Sunday for reasons that have not yet been clarified. The crew was rescued after a distress signal was sent out by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy, reported the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi.
The feeder freighter came from Vizhinjam and sank about 38 nautical miles from its port of destination Kochi (both Kerala/India). The ship was carrying 640 containers, some of which were carrying an unspecified "dangerous cargo". The authorities called on people to stay away from washed-up containers and warned fishermen not to approach the scene of the accident.
Crew is rescued via life raft. Picture: India DoD
The ship sank with around 450 tonnes of fuel in its tanks. According to the state of Kerala, the coast guard is deploying two ships and an aircraft to contain the leaking oil.
In recent years, MSC has also significantly increased its capacity by purchasing older ships and became the largest liner shipping company in the world in January 2023. The 28-year-old MSC ELISA 3 has already been frequently criticised during port state controls. Although the defects are usually rectified and certified before departure, they are not proof of the ship's current poor condition. However, this is not the first ship from the market-leading shipping company to make the headlines and previously attract attention during port state controls.
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