Indian Coast Guard leads urgent rescue of 24 crew after Liberian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 develops critical 26-degree list off Kochi coast. Salvage efforts underway to prevent environmental hazard. (Image: PIB)
The Librarian container vessel MSC ELSA 3 developed a critical 26-degree list approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi on 24 May 2025, prompting an urgent rescue operation led by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The ship, which had departed Vizhinjam Port on 23 May en route to Kochi, issued a distress alert early on Saturday afternoon.
The ICG swiftly deployed ships and aircraft to the scene, coordinating a large-scale rescue effort. Of the 24 crew members onboard—comprising a Russian captain, 20 Filipinos, two Ukrainians, and one Georgian—nine have been rescued and transferred to nearby vessels, while operations continue to evacuate the remaining 15 seafarers. To aid evacuation, Coast Guard aircraft airdropped additional life rafts near the listing vessel.
The Directorate General of Shipping, working closely with the ICG, has directed the ship managers to arrange urgent salvage assistance to stabilise the vessel and mitigate environmental risks, including potential oil spills from hazardous cargo onboard. A second MSC vessel has arrived to support salvage and towing efforts, with the Indian Navy also evaluating options to prevent further damage.
The situation remains under close surveillance as rescue and salvage operations proceed to ensure the safety of all crew and to protect the coastal environment.
