by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

On Sunday, 25 May, an MSC container vessel sank off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, India.

Boxship MSC Elsa 3, with a capacity of 1,730 TEU, was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 containing calcium carbide.

The vessel succumbed to flooding in its cargo holds, resulting in its capsizing. Numerous containers fell into the sea during the incident due to the ship's tilt.

Calcium carbide, known for its industrial use, poses risks when reacted with seawater. It forms flammable gas and slaked lime, which can harm marine ecosystems.

The ship was deployed on MSC's Kerala Shuttle service, with port calls at Vazhinjam, New Mangalore and Cochin.

All crew members are reported to be unharmed.

According to a Reuters report, Indian authorities in the southern state of Kerala started an emergency operation to contain an oil spill caused by the accident.

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