Salvage Operations Resume at MSC ELSA 3 Wreck Site

Kollam: Work to recover fuel and dangerous cargo from the sunken ship MSC ELSA 3 resumed on today on Sepetember 1, 2025 morning, after bad weather had forced a temporary halt to operations. The salvage ships had returned to Kollam Port on Saturday when rough sea conditions made it unsafe to continue.

The cargo ship, which was sailing under the Liberian flag, sank on May 25, about 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi, while travelling along a major shipping route between Tuticorin, Vizhinjam, Kochi, and Mangaluru. At the time of the accident, the vessel was carrying 643 containers, including several holding hazardous materials like calcium carbide, as well as large amounts of fuel oil. All 24 crew members were rescued safely.

The two ships leading the recovery mission — DSV Southern Nova and Offshore Monarch — are now back at the wreck site. On board are 105 experts, including divers, engineers, and technical staff from eight countries, all working to carefully remove thick, cold bunker oil and dangerous chemicals from the sunken vessel. The team had been heating parts of the fuel tanks to loosen and safely extract the oil when bad weather interrupted their work.

So far, the recovery teams have only managed to collect small debris such as shells, mud, and seawater. But officials say the main goal remains: to safely remove hazardous cargo that could cause serious damage to the sea and marine life. In the next stage, they plan to retrieve containers stuck deep in the seabed.

The accident has triggered major environmental and legal concerns across Kerala. Several containers that floated to shore along the Kollam coast are now being stored securely and inspected.

The Kerala government has declared the incident a “state-specific disaster” and is demanding Rs. 9,531 crore (about $1.1 billion) in compensation from Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — the global company that operates the ship. The claim includes damages for environmental harm, loss of fishing livelihoods, and cleanup costs.

However, MSC has pushed back, saying the accident happened outside Indian waters and that the company cannot be held fully responsible. The legal battle is now before the Kerala High Court, which has detained another MSC vessel, the MSC Akiteta II, at Vizhinjam port. The court has given time for the state government to respond to MSC’s objections, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 16.

Environmental worries have also deepened. In June, two dead dolphins were found on a beach in Thrissur, and experts suspect their deaths may be linked to chemical leaks from the sunken ship. Tests are still being carried out.

Meanwhile, both state and central governments are taking steps to repair the damage. The Union Fisheries Ministry has approved Rs. 13.02 crore for building artificial reefs to help restore fish populations.

Early tests suggest there is no large-scale pollution in the water yet, but scientists warn that the full impact of the wreck — especially from the chemicals and fuel onboard — may not be known for months or even years. The National Institute of Oceanography is now conducting a full environmental study.

As the salvage ships return to work in the Arabian Sea, Kerala is facing one of the most complex maritime recovery efforts in its history — one that has become a battle not just to clean up a disaster, but to make sure those responsible are held to account.