• A Liberian-flagged container ship sank off Kerala, India, with all 24 crew members rescued.
• The vessel, MSC ELSA 3, was carrying 640 containers, including hazardous materials.
• Authorities are on high alert to contain an oil spill and protect the sensitive marine ecosystem.

A Liberian-flagged container ship, MSC ELSA 3, sank off the coast of Kerala, India, on May 25, 2025, prompting swift rescue efforts by the Indian navy, which successfully evacuated all 24 crew members. The ship was sailing from the Indian port of Vizhinjam to Kochi when it capsized approximately 38 nautical miles from the coast due to flooding, according to Dawn and Channel News Asia.

The vessel was laden with 640 containers, with 13 classified as hazardous cargo, including 12 containing calcium carbide, a chemical used in the manufacturing of fertilizers and steel. The ship also held about 370 tonnes of fuel and oil, raising alarm over potential environmental impacts along a sensitive marine ecosystem, noted by the Indian Defence Ministry and Le Monde.

In response to the incident, Kerala's authorities have heightened alerts along the coast, with warnings issued to avoid touching any objects or containers that washed ashore due to fears of contamination. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed multiple vessels and aerial resources, including an aircraft equipped with oil spill detection systems, to manage the situation, as reported by South China Morning Post and BBC.

Furthermore, environmental experts have expressed concerns that the situation could worsen if the pollutants spread into the region’s rich biodiversity. The Coast Guard is taking actions to prevent the spread of the oil, including deploying ships to contain the leak and using aerial methods to spray oil-destroying powder, according to TRT Global and Dawn.