Filipinos were among 24 crew members rescued by Indian naval forces after a Liberian-flagged container ship carrying hazardous cargo sank off the coast of Kerala in southern India, officials confirmed Sunday.
The 184-meter-long MSC ELSA 3 was en route from the Indian port of Vizhinjam to Kochi when it encountered trouble on Saturday and sent out a distress call.
The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 containing calcium carbide.
Navy aircraft deployed to the area located two life rafts with the crew aboard, as the ship listed dangerously about 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi.
“All 24 crew members on board were rescued,” India’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The crew included nationals from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and the Philippines. The Indian Coast Guard and a navy patrol vessel conducted the rescue.
The Defense Ministry did not detail the specific contents of the hazardous cargo. Calcium carbide, one of the declared materials, is commonly used in the chemical industry, including in fertilizer production and steelmaking.
The ship also carried about 370 tons of fuel and oil. Although pollution detection systems were deployed, authorities reported no oil spill as of Sunday.
“Given the sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala’s coast, the Indian Coast Guard has activated full pollution response preparedness,” the navy said.
An investigation into the incident and environmental monitoring efforts are underway. WITH AFP
