A Liberia-flagged container vessel sank off Kochi due to flooding in the early hours on Sunday at around 7:30 AM. All the 24 crew aboard MSC ELSA 3 (IMO NO. 9123221) were rescued safely. However, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is on a high alert after the ship sank off the Kochi coast.
ICG said in a statement that it is monitoring the situation closely for any oil or chemical spill and is fully geared up to respond to any emerging situation.
Of these, 21 were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard and three by the Indian Navy ship INS Sujata. According to news agency IANS, the crew included one Russian (Master), two Ukrainians, a Georgian, and 20 Philippine nationals.
The distress information regarding the Liberian vessel’s situation was received at around 1325 hours on May 24. It was located about 38 nautical miles from Kochi at the time and had developed a 26-degree list to starboard, with a risk of capsizing.
When the shipping company failed to establish communication with the crew, it requested ICG for its assistance to ensure the safety of those onboard the vessel. Acting promptly, the ICG’s Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in Kochi dispatched a Dornier aircraft to conduct aerial surveillance and discover the vessel’s exact location, IANS reported.
