The 184-meter-long freighter was sailing between the Indian ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi on Saturday when the vessel got into distress and sent out a distress signal.
The Navy found two lifeboats and managed to rescue all crew members, who were from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and the Philippines. The ship sank 38 nautical miles southwest of Kochi.
"The ship sank with 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous goods and 12 containing calcium carbide", the Defense Department writes in a statement, without specifying what the hazardous goods consisted of.
About 370 tons of fuel and oil were also on the ship, but the Coast Guard has not yet seen any leaks.
"Considering the sensitive marine ecosystem along Kerala's coast, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has activated full preparedness for pollution", the Navy reports.
