Thiruvananthapuram: Wreckage believed to be from the MSC Elsa-3 has been discovered on the seabed near Kovalam beach in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the first such find since the ship sank off the Kochi coast on May 25.
The debris, identified as part of a container, was located partially buried in sand and wedged between underwater rocks extending from Mukkom Hills.
Clam gatherers at Ashoka Beach reportedly first spotted the object, after which a team from Friends of Marine Life (FML) and SCUBA COCHIN conducted a two-day underwater search, TNIE reported.
During the search, divers identified a container marked “TGHU 99 1951 [5],” measuring approximately 3 metres in length, 2.45 metres in width, and 2 metres in height.
According to FML Chief Coordinator Robert Panipilla, a broader search along the underwater rock formations in the coastal areas of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kanyakumari could yield more clues about the sunken vessel. He also called on authorities to verify the ship’s cargo manifest to confirm whether the container was part of MSC Elsa-3’s load and in form them.