Crew Rescued as Cargo Ship Carrying Hazardous Materials Sinks off Kerala Coast, Raising Environmental Fears

A cargo ship sank off the coast of Kerala after tilting sharply and losing several containers into the sea, raising serious concerns about environmental damage. Fortunately, all 24 crew members have been rescued—three of them in a dramatic last-minute operation.

The Liberian-flagged vessel, MSC Elsa 3, had just left Vizhinjam Port on Friday and was headed to Kochi when its parent company alerted Indian authorities that the ship was leaning dangerously—by 26 degrees—and needed urgent help.

Rescue teams quickly responded. Twenty-one crew members, including nationals from Russia, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Georgia, were rescued early on. But three remained onboard as per the company’s instructions, hoping the ship would stabilize. It didn’t.

“We thought it would hold, but the water kept coming in and the ship eventually sank,” said Coast Guard Inspector General Bhisham Sharma. It was the Indian Navy ship INS Sujata that finally rescued the last three crew members under extremely risky conditions. “Everyone is safe now,” Sharma confirmed, “but the situation remains serious.”

Several containers fell into the sea and are now drifting—posing a major hazard to other ships and potentially the coastline. “These containers could wash up on shore,” Sharma warned. Some of them contain hazardous materials, including calcium carbide, which reacts dangerously with water. The ship was also carrying more than 84 metric tonnes of diesel.

The Coast Guard says there’s no sign of an oil spill yet, but they’re closely monitoring the area. Pollution control teams are on standby while, aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill detection systems are scanning the waters. Kerala’s coast is both ecologically rich and a popular tourist destination, making any potential pollution a serious concern.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has urged the public not to approach any containers or oily patches that might wash ashore. Instead, they’re asking people to alert the police immediately if they spot anything unusual.

A second ship from the Liberian company has arrived to assist with the response. Authorities are now assessing whether the sunken vessel can be towed or salvaged.

For now, the focus is on safety—both for people and the environment.