Twenty-one crew members have been rescued after the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 developed a extreme 26-degree tilt on Saturday, roughly 38 nautical miles southwest (Nm SW) of Kochi.
As of 8.00 pm, 21 crew members had been rescued, and three crew members (Captain, Chief Engg, and 2nd Engg) remained onboard to facilitate deliberate salvage operations.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships and plane proceed to coordinate and monitor the scenario. Some containers have fallen overboard because of the vessel’s tilt.
Based on officers, “Threat evaluation is in progress. All efforts are being made to take care of the vessel’s stability.”
The 184-metre-long ship had departed Vizhinjam Port on Could 23 and was en path to Kochi when the incident occurred on Saturday, Could 24.
Round 1.25 pm, the vessel’s operator, MSC Ship Administration, knowledgeable Indian authorities concerning the incident and sought instant help.
The ICG swiftly initiated rescue efforts, deploying ships and plane within the neighborhood to supply aerial assist.
To assist the evacuation course of, ICG plane have dropped further liferafts close to the distressed container ship.
The Directorate Common of Delivery (DG Delivery), in coordination with the Coast Guard, has directed the vessel’s managers to rearrange for pressing salvage companies to stabilise the scenario.