Thiruvananthapuram: In a remarkable rescue mission, the INS Sujata successfully retrieved the last three crew members from a Liberian-flagged container ship that capsized in the Arabian Sea, roughly 38 nautical miles (about 70 km) from Kochi, Kerala, as reported by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

The vessel was on its way from Vizhinjam to Kochi and was expected to dock by Saturday evening. Unfortunately, it encountered a crisis when water began flooding one of its holds.

This flooding led to the ship capsizing swiftly in the early hours of May 25, triggering an urgent response.

According to the ICG, "The vessel capsized rapidly due to flooding in one of the holds. The remaining three crew members were rescued by INS Sujata, which joined the operation last evening."

All crew members have been confirmed safe. The ICG is now assessing the incident and advising state authorities on managing potential environmental impacts.

The incident followed a warning from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) regarding the risk of hazardous materials spilling into the sea.

The ICG noted that the ship was carrying marine gas oil and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), and approximately 10 containers were lost during the capsizing. These containers contained oil substances vital for maritime operations.

VLSFO, which has a maximum sulphur content of 0.5 percent by mass, is crucial for adhering to the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) 2020 emissions regulations aimed at curbing sulphur pollution in international waters.

Earlier on Saturday, 21 out of the 24 crew members were rescued after the ship began to list. The three remaining crew members, including the Captain, Chief Engineer, and Second Engineer, initially stayed aboard but were later compelled to abandon the sinking ship.

The vessel was approaching Cochin Port when the emergency unfolded. The ICG and other relevant agencies are actively monitoring the situation and implementing measures to mitigate any further environmental damage from the spill.

Updates regarding the investigation and cleanup efforts are anticipated.