In a dramatic disclosure following a Kerala High Court directive, the Kerala government has released the full manifest of the MSC Elisa-3 cargo ship, which sank off the Kochi coast on May 25. The sunken Liberian vessel was carrying 640 out of 643 containers filled with a wide range of materials — some hazardous, some unexpected.
Among the contents: 13 containers of calcium carbide, a highly dangerous chemical that can release explosive acetylene gas upon contact with water. Of these, seven have plunged into the sea, raising serious environmental and safety concerns. Also onboard were 60 containers of raw polymers, 87 with timber, 39 with textile-grade cotton, and 46 loaded with coconuts and cashew nuts. Notably, four containers labeled “CASH” were found to contain cashews, not currency.
Adding to the mystery, 71 containers were entirely empty, while others have washed ashore along Kerala’s southern coastline. The incident, triggered by rough seas roughly 38 nautical miles (70 km) from Kochi and just 27 km from Alappuzha, has sparked questions over maritime safety and emergency response protocols.
