Subhechcha Ganguly 
In a high-stakes maritime operation, the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy successfully rescued all 24 crew members of the Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC Elsa 3, which capsized off the coast of Kerala early Sunday morning following severe flooding and harsh sea conditions.
The 184-metre vessel, operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), was en route from Vizhinjam Port to Kochi when it developed a sharp list on May 24 due to inclement weather and water ingress in one of its cargo holds. The rapidly deteriorating situation forced most of the crew to abandon ship.
Rescue efforts began late Saturday.
-
Nine crew members were rescued by the Singapore-flagged vessel Han Yi,
-
Twelve more were retrieved by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Arnvesh.
-
The remaining three — the captain (a Russian national), chief engineer, and second engineer — stayed on board as per company protocol.
However, as conditions worsened, the Indian Navy’s INS Sujata carried out a risky final phase of the rescue, bringing the three senior officers to safety in the early hours of Sunday.
Officials confirmed that no casualties were reported, and a joint response team has also been deployed to monitor any environmental risks from the incident.
The daring rescue underscores India’s growing role in ensuring maritime safety in the Indian Ocean region and reflects the seamless coordination between national agencies and international vessels during emergencies at sea.
