MSC and the crew of MSC Elsa 3 have been charged with negligence by Indian police, which has alleged that the company and crew operated the ship without due care despite hazardous cargoes being on board.
The 1997-built, 1,730 TEU MSC Elsa 3 sank off Kerala on 24 May, after listing severely. All its 24 crewmen were evacuated on lifeboats. The ship was sailing from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it encountered trouble, and the crew sent a distress call.
Of the 640 containers on MSC Elsa 3, 13 had hazardous cargo, and 12 had calcium carbide, a chemical compound with traces of phosphorus and arsenic. The ship’s tanks carried 84 tonnes of diesel fuel and over 360 tonnes of furnace oil.
Police in Kerala allege that MSC and the MSC Elsa 3 were negligent in vessel and cargo operations, causing the incident as well as damage to the environment due to fuel oil leaks and the spread of debris.
Twenty-four containers washed ashore in Kerala. State officials said the pollution resulting from the incident has set back the lives of at least 78,000 fishing families in four districts.
Preliminary investigations suggest that ballast water management system mechanical failures caused the ship to list and sink.
MSC has not responded to Container News’ request for comment.
