The Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 sank 38 miles off the Indian coast southwest of the port city of Kochi. This was reported by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), according to Seafarers Journal.
Reports indicate the vessel was en route from Vizhinjam port to Kochi when it began sinking after developing a severe list (26 degrees).
Immediately after the emergency, 21 crew members were evacuated. The captain, chief engineer, and second engineer remained aboard the distressed cargo ship. As the container vessel rapidly sank and capsized, they were also rescued by the Indian ship INS Sujata that joined the operation.
MSC ELSA 3 had a total of 24 crew members onboard, including Ukrainian, Georgian, Russian, and Filipino sailors. All were successfully rescued.
The ship was carrying 640 containers, 13 of which contained hazardous cargo, with 12 holding calcium carbide. Additionally, its fuel tanks carried 84.44 metric tons of diesel and 367.1 metric tons of residual fuel.
