Kochi Emergency as Hazardous Cargo Containers Spill from MSC Elsa 3
In response to the sinking of the cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 off the coast of Kochi, the Kerala government has declared a statewide emergency to mitigate environmental and public safety risks.
With multiple hazardous containers feared to be adrift in the Arabian Sea, the state’s disaster management protocols were swiftly activated. The Pollution Control Board, local police units, and the Indian Coast Guard have been mobilised to manage the crisis and prevent the spill from escalating into a large-scale ecological disaster. Authorities have issued an urgent public advisory warning residents to maintain a minimum distance of 200 metres from any containers or debris that may wash ashore. Any sightings must be reported immediately to emergency services by dialling 112. The state’s communication channels have been engaged to inform coastal communities from Kollam to Thiruvananthapuram, particularly vulnerable zones like Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha, and Karunagappally, where ocean currents could drive hazardous cargo to land as early as this afternoon.
The incident, which occurred 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi, involved the Liberian-flagged MSC Elsa 3, carrying a total of 640 containers. Among them, 13 were classified as hazardous, and 12 are confirmed to contain calcium carbide—a substance that poses a severe risk when exposed to water. Compounding the threat is the ship’s fuel load: 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil are now potentially contaminating marine ecosystems. Initial distress was reported midday, following severe weather and whirlpool conditions that caused the vessel to list and capsize. Rescue operations led by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy successfully evacuated 21 of the 24 crew members, comprising 20 Filipinos, two Ukrainians, and a Georgian. The ship’s captain, a Russian national, along with the chief and second engineers, remained onboard through the night and were rescued in a follow-up mission the next morning.
While no major fuel spill has yet been detected near Kochi, the risk of underwater oil leakage remains high. The Pollution Control Board has begun deploying shoreline mitigation units and marine containment booms to restrict any environmental fallout. Simultaneously, teams equipped with JCBs and cranes have been stationed in key coastal areas to retrieve any drifting containers. Fishing operations within a 20-nautical mile radius have been suspended until further notice, and the Navy is on alert for underwater inspections. Experts warn that the calcium carbide containers, if ruptured, could lead to toxic gas emissions and fire hazards, underscoring the urgency of pre-emptive safety measures.
The MSC Elsa 3 crisis highlights the fragile interface between industrial maritime activity and coastal environmental stability. The state’s rapid mobilisation reflects growing awareness of the consequences of hazardous maritime cargo incidents and the need for stronger regulatory and logistical frameworks to handle such emergencies in future.
