DGMA seeks Navy’s help to survey MSC Elsa 3 wreck site
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration has requested the Indian Navy to conduct an independent survey of the MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck off the coast of Alappuzha. This move follows a Kerala High Court directive to assess potential seabed damage and risks posed by hazardous cargo remaining in the submerged vessel.
Why it matters
It addresses environmental and safety concerns regarding potential chemical leaks or structural hazards from a major shipwreck in coastal waters.
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has requested the Indian Navy to examine the feasibility of conducting an independent underwater survey and technical assessment of the wreck site of MSC Elsa 3 , a Liberia-flagged vessel that sank off the coast of Alappuzha in May 2025.
The DGMA placed the request in an email earlier this week following the Kerala High Court’s directive to the Union government to examine whether the Navy could be deployed to assess the seabed damage caused by the shipwreck.
The proposed assessment seeks to verify the present condition and structural integrity of the wreck, including the submerged containers which remain within the vessel and those lying on the seabed. The Navy has also been asked to look into the feasibility of verifying the condition of the containers carrying hazardous cargo and assessing the potential risks caused by them, if any.
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