Key Points

The Indian Coast Guard successfully rescued all 24 crew members from the capsized Liberian container ship MSC ELSA 3 near Kochi. Three crew, including the captain, stayed aboard for salvage but were later rescued by INS Sujata. Authorities confirmed flooding in a hold caused the vessel to capsize rapidly. The ICG and Navy continue monitoring the situation to prevent environmental damage.

Key Points: Indian Coast Guard Rescues 24 Crew From Capsized MSC ELSA 3 Near Kochi

  • INS Sujata rescued final 3 crew members
  • Flooding in hold caused rapid capsizing
  • ICG and Navy monitoring for environmental risks
  • Vessel had departed Vizhinjam Port before incident
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All 24 crew rescued from capsized Liberian container ship near Kochi coast

All 24 crew members, including the captain, safely rescued after Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 capsized near Kochi due to flooding.

"All crew remain safe and ICG is conducting assessment of the situation – Indian Coast Guard"

Kochi, May 25

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Sunday confirmed that all 24 crew members of the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 have been rescued which capsized around 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi coast.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, as of Sunday morning, all three crew members who remained on the ship were rescued by INS Sujata, which joined the operation on Saturday evening.

The other 21 crew members were already rescued, while the other three members, which included the Captain, Chief engineer, and second engineer, remained onboard to facilitate planned salvage operations.

The ICG further added that the reason for the vessel to capsize is due to flooding in one of the holds.

All crew are now safe and the ICG are assessing the situation for further action.

"Update as of 0830 hrs on 25 May 25:-In the early hours of 25 May 25, the vessel capsized rapidly reportedly due to flooding in one of the holds. 03 crew remaining onboard abandoned ship and were rescued by INS Sujata, which joined operations last evening. All crew remain safe and ICG is conducting assessment of the situation and issuing advisory to state authorities accordingly. Further updates follows," the Indian Coast Guard stated on X.

Earlier, the Coast Guard PRO stated the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy are maintaining their positions to monitor the situation of the vessel.

Indian Navy are currently making assessments to determine if the vessel can be towed, aiming to prevent additional environmental damage.

The 184-metre-long ship had departed from Vizhinjam Port on May 23 and was expected to reach Kochi on May 24.

Around 1:25 PM on Saturday, the vessel's operator, MSC Ship Management, informed Indian authorities about the incident and sought immediate assistance.

The Indian Coast Guard swiftly initiated rescue efforts, deploying ships and aircraft in the vicinity to provide aerial support.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Great job by our Coast Guard and Navy! 👏 This shows how prepared our forces are for maritime emergencies. Hope they can prevent any oil spills or environmental damage now. Kerala's coastline is too precious to be harmed.
P
Priya M.
Why did the ship capsize so suddenly? Flooding in one hold shouldn't normally cause this. There should be stricter checks on foreign vessels using our ports. Glad all crew are safe though - that's what matters most.
A
Arjun S.
Salute to our brave men in uniform! The coordination between ICG and Navy was excellent. This incident shows why we need to keep investing in our maritime security infrastructure.
S
Sunita R.
The captain and engineers showed real courage staying onboard to help with salvage ops. Hope the shipping company properly compensates all crew members for this traumatic experience.
V
Vikram J.
While the rescue was commendable, we need to ask why Vizhinjam Port allowed a potentially unsafe vessel to sail. Our port authorities must be more vigilant about ship conditions before granting clearance.
M
Meena L.
So proud of our maritime forces! 🇮🇳 This incident proves how crucial the Indian Ocean is for trade and why we need strong naval capabilities. The quick response saved 24 lives today!

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