Cargo Ship Completely Submerged in Sea; All Crew Members Safe

Thiruvananthapuram: The Liberian cargo vessel MSC Elisa III, which was listing at a 26- degree angle in the Arabian Sea, has completely sunk. A major disaster was averted as all 24 crew members on board had been rescued earlier. Reports indicate that the containers on board had fallen into the sea. Adverse weather conditions hampered the rescue operations.
The ship met with the accident in the Arabian Sea, about 38 nautical miles (70 kilometers) off the Kerala coast. Of the 24 crew members, 20 were from the Philippines, two from Ukraine, and one from Georgia. The captain of the ship is a Russian national.
When the ship tilted, the containers it was carrying fell into the Arabian Sea. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, marine gas oil (MGO) and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) have leaked from the vessel. The Coast Guard has issued a warning that some of the containers may wash ashore.
The ship is 184 meters long and 26 meters wide. It has a gross tonnage of 16,799 tons and a deadweight tonnage of 22,994 tons. MSC Elisa III was commissioned in 1997. The vessel, which has an average speed of 6.7 knots and a maximum speed of 13.1 knots, departed from Thoothukudi on the evening of May 18 and had reached Vizhinjam. A review meeting regarding the incident will be held at 11:30 AM under the leadership of the Chief Secretary.

Disaster Management Authority Advisory
If you find any objects on the shore that appear to be from the sunken ship, do not touch them or approach them. Inform authorities immediately by calling 112. Maintain a minimum distance of 200 meters. Do not gather in crowds. Do not obstruct officials when they are removing materials. Keep a safe distance. The general public and media personnel are advised to exercise extra caution.