On a quiet day off the coast of Kochi, the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 met a grim fate. The vessel, carrying hazardous cargo, sank roughly 38 nautical miles from Kochi, triggering a major rescue and environmental response. Fortunately, all 24 crew members were safely rescued by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy. But the implications of this incident extend far beyond the immediate danger.

Incident Summary

Attribute	Details
Ship Name	MSC ELSA 3
Flag	Liberia
Location of Incident	38 nautical miles off Kochi, India
Date of Incident	May 2025
Cause	Severe flooding in one of the holds; specific cause under investigation
Crew Onboard	24
Rescue	All crew rescued by Indian Coast Guard and Navy
Pollution Risk	High – hazardous cargo onboard

Possible Causes of Flooding

Though the technical reason behind the flooding remains unspecified, maritime analysts often cite the following:

• Weather Conditions: Rough seas and storms may have overwhelmed onboard drainage.
• Structural Weakness: Hull breaches or cracks could have allowed water ingress.
• Operational Errors: Improper cargo handling may have caused load imbalance.
• Mechanical Failures: Pump or valve failures can prevent removal of ingress water.

Hazardous Cargo Onboard

Cargo Type	Quantity	Risk
Diesel	84.44 metric tons	Flammable, risk of marine pollution
Furnace Oil	367.1 metric tons	Heavy pollutant, persistent in marine ecosystems
Hazardous Containers	13 (12 with calcium carbide)	Calcium carbide reacts with water to release flammable acetylene gas

Environmental & Public Warnings

• The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) urged the public not to approach any drifting containers due to risks of chemical exposure.
• Calcium carbide, in contact with seawater, produces acetylene gas and significantly alters water alkalinity, disrupting marine habitats.
• Fishermen and coastal communities have been requested to report sightings of floating debris or oil slicks.

Pollution Containment Efforts

The ICG deployed:

• Pollution response vessel ‘Saksham’
• Surveillance aircraft to monitor potential oil leaks.

While no spill has been confirmed so far, efforts continue under challenging weather.

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Context: Other Major Shipping Incidents in 2025

Date	Incident	Location	Summary
Jan 28	ASL Bauhinia	Red Sea (Yemen)	Explosion and fire; full crew evacuated
Feb 8	An Yang 2	Off Sakhalin, Russia	Grounded during storm; carried coal and oil
Feb 12	USS Harry S. Truman & Besiktas-M	Near Port Said, Egypt	Collision with U.S. aircraft carrier; no injuries
Feb 15	MSC Baltic III	Wild Cove, Newfoundland	Ran aground after power failure in rough weather
Mar 10	MV Solong & Stena Immaculate	North Sea (UK)	Collision and fire; one crew member missing
Mar 27	Sindbad Tourist Submarine	Hurghada, Egypt	Sank while boarding passengers; six fatalities
Apr 16	Delphine	Zeebrugge, Belgium	Fire on car deck, likely due to EVs

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Conclusion: Time for Accountability in Shipping

“If this happened in aviation,” one maritime expert remarked, “the entire fleet would be grounded. In shipping? The front falls off and the fleet sails on.”

The MSC ELSA 3 incident is a stark reminder of the environmental and operational vulnerabilities in global maritime logistics. While rescue and containment efforts deserve praise, the frequency of such incidents in 2025 alone signals the urgent need for:

• Stricter compliance audits
• Improved weather-routing protocols
• Mandatory structural integrity checks
• Greater accountability for hazardous cargo tracking

In the Indian Ocean and beyond, the waters are getting riskier—not just for ships, but for entire ecosystems and coastal economies.