Thiruvananthapuram: On May 24, 2025, the Liberian-flagged cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 sank approximately 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, India. The ship was transporting 643 containers, with reports indicating that 640 of them contained a variety of goods, including hazardous materials. Among these were 13 containers carrying calcium carbide, a chemical that reacts with water to produce acetylene gas, which is flammable and poses health risks. Seven of these containers reportedly fell into the sea, while the remaining six are believed to be within the sunken vessel.
In addition to calcium carbide, the cargo included 46 containers of coconuts and cashew nuts, 87 containers of wood, 60 containers of polymer raw materials, and 39 containers of cotton intended for textile manufacturing. There were also four containers labeled "cash," though the contents of these remain unspecified. Furthermore, 71 containers were reported to be empty.
The Kerala High Court has expressed concern over the environmental implications of the shipwreck, particularly regarding the hazardous materials on board. The court has directed the state government to disclose detailed information about the cargo and to assess the potential environmental impact of the sunken containers. This directive came in response to a petition filed by Congress leader T.N. Prathapan, who emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in addressing the incident.
In response to the disaster, the Kerala state government has declared the shipwreck a state-specific disaster and announced immediate relief measures for affected fisherfolk in the Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts. These measures include financial assistance and the provision of essential supplies. Cleanup operations are underway, involving police, volunteers, and civil defense teams, with drone surveys being conducted to map contamination. Authorities are coordinating with the ship's operator, MSC, to address environmental and economic damages and have requested the vessel's removal. Efforts are also being made to recover fuel and assess contamination risks, although seafood remains deemed safe. Fishing has been banned within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the incident site. A sonar survey will be conducted to locate remaining debris, and post-monsoon efforts will focus on vessel and container removal. A claims desk has been established in Kochi to assist with insurance processes.
Environmental experts have raised alarms about the potential long-term ecological damage resulting from the shipwreck. Plastic pellets, or nurdles, from the sunken vessel have begun washing up on beaches, posing hazards to marine life, as they resemble fish eggs and can be ingested by marine animals, leading to starvation and health issues. Over time, these nurdles can absorb toxic chemicals and break down into microplastics, entering the food chain and human diet.
The incident has drawn comparisons to previous maritime disasters, such as the sinking of the X-Press Pearl off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2021, which led to significant environmental damage due to the release of hazardous chemicals and plastics into the ocean. As cleanup efforts continue, authorities and environmentalists stress the importance of comprehensive assessments and transparent communication to mitigate the disaster's impact and prevent similar incidents in the future.