Indian Coast Guard issues high alert for Kerala Coast as hazardous cargo drifts ashore after cargo ship ‘MSC ELSA 3’ mishap off Kochi; rescue operation underway
THIRUVANANTHPURAM : The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has issued a high-alert warning to the state of Kerala following the detection of hazardous cargo and oil drifting toward its coastline.
The alert was raised after the ICG identified multiple dangerous objects floating in the Arabian Sea, suspected to have fallen from a ship navigating international waters.
According to official sources, the materials—described by the Coast Guard as “hazardous”—were spotted in deep-sea areas and are believed to be slowly moving toward the Kerala shore.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) confirmed receipt of the alert and acknowledged the high possibility of hazardous cargo and oil traces reaching the shore in the coming days.
In response, the agency has issued strict advisories to district administrations, coastal police units, and port authorities to raise public awareness and prepare for emergency response measures.
“The public, especially coastal residents, fishermen, and tourists, are advised not to touch or handle any unidentified containers or suspicious floating objects that may wash ashore,” the KSDMA said in a statement.
“Any sightings of such objects or signs of oil spills must be reported immediately to the nearest authorities or disaster response teams.”
It has been learned that the cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 was involved in an accident approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, leading to the loss of hazardous cargo at sea.
Earlier reports had indicated that an unidentified vessel lost part of its load in the Arabian Sea; it is now confirmed that MSC ELSA 3 was carrying 367.1 metric tonnes of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and 84.4 metric tonnes of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) when the incident occurred.
While the exact quantity of cargo lost remains uncertain, the situation has prompted heightened vigilance from maritime safety agencies.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in coordination with state and central authorities, has stepped up surveillance and deployed patrol vessels to track drifting containers and monitor for any oil slicks approaching the Indian coastline.
The Coast Guard said that efforts have been made to rescue the crew after the ship capsized.
The ship was sailing from Vizhinjam to Kochi. Nine crew members on board escaped using life jackets. Efforts are being made to rescue the rest
The ICG is actively working to prevent potential environmental damage and safety hazards, maintaining close coordination with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority and other stakeholders.
The KSDMA stated that the hazardous cargo could potentially wash ashore anywhere along the Kerala coast. Increased vigilance is advised along the Thrissur-Kochi-Alappuzha stretch, with Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram now also on alert.
The Indian Coast Guard has launched a major maritime rescue operation off the Kochi coast. The 184-metre-long MSC ELSA 3, sailing under the Liberian flag, reported a 26-degree list around 1:25 PM on Saturday, approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi. The ship, operated by MSC Ship Management, had departed Vizhinjam Port on May 23 and was en route to Kochi when the crew raised an alarm and requested urgent assistance from Indian authorities.
Responding swiftly, the Indian Coast Guard deployed ships and aircraft to the site. So far, 21 out of the 24 crew members have evacuated the vessel using liferafts, while rescue operations for the remaining 15 are ongoing. Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels are on scene, and ICG Dornier aircraft have dropped additional liferafts near the distressed vessel.
The Directorate General of Shipping, in coordination with the Coast Guard, has instructed the ship’s managers to immediately arrange salvage operations. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure crew safety and prevent any environmental threats.
From its last known position, the container vessel MSC ELSA 3 was located approximately 74 km from Kochi (Ernakulam), 62 km from Alappuzha, and 104 km from Kollam, according to official estimates.
