&w=3840&q=100)
Why has Kerala ‘arrested' a cargo ship?
A Liberian container vessel capsized in Kerala in May. Image Courtesy:@IndiaCoastGuard via PTI Photo
Kerala has arrested a foreign cargo ship currently within Indian territorial waters. The Kerala High Court on Monday (July 7) directed the conditional arrest of Liberian container ship MSC Akiteta II.
This came after the Kerala government filed an admiralty suit in the court, seeking compensation over the sinking of its 'sister' container ship, MSC Elsa III, in May. The suit has been filed under Section 4 of the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Let's take a closer look.
Kerala HC orders 'arrest' of cargo ship
The Kerala High Court ordered the conditional arrest of MSC Akiteta II, anchored at Thiruvananthapuram's Vizhinjam port.
This came after the Kerala government sought compensation of Rs 9,531 crore for the alleged pollution off the Kerala coast caused by the sinking of MSC Elsa III on May 25, around 25 km southwest of Alappuzha.
The Liberian container ship went down with 640 containers, including those with hazardous substances, plastic pellets, calcium carbide, diesel and furnace oil.
The Liberian vessel was carrying over 600 containers, including those with hazardous substances. File Photo/PTI
On Monday (July 7), the Kerala government filed an admiralty suit in the High Court to recover Rs 9,531 crores in maritime claims for the purported environmental and economic damage caused by the sinking of the ship.
The vessel allegedly released oil and cargo that harmed the marine environment and impacted the livelihood of thousands of fishermen in Kerala.
The Kerala government sought the arrest of MSC MV Akiteta II until it was paid the compensation. The suit mentioned the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), one of whose firms runs the MSC Akiteta II. Another company of the group operated the MSC Elsa III.
'It is averred in the plaint that the damage occurred on account of oil pollution caused by the said vessel and pollution caused by the cargo in 643 containers carried in the said vessel. It is averred that the compensation is computed in accordance with the Central Pollution Control Board Guidelines,' the HC order said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Justice MA Abdul Hakhim issued an interim order, allowing Vizhinjam Seaport to implement the warrant and make the arrest.
'MSC AKITETA II, along with her hull, tackle, engine, machinery, spares, gear, apparel, paraphernalia, furniture, etc, presently anchored in Vizhinjam Port, is ordered to be arrested until Rs 9,531 crore is deposited by the 1st respondent in this Court, or until security for the said amount is furnished to the Court's satisfaction,' the court said, as per LiveLaw.
In maritime law, a court or other competent authority can detain a vessel to secure a maritime claim against it or its owner.
The Kerala High Court will hear the case again on Thursday (July 10).
What is an admiralty suit?
The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017, deals with maritime disputes in India. The legislation allows the filing of admiralty suits for maritime claims such as damage to ships, ownership and agreement disputes, loss of life, wage issues, and environmental damage.
This law replaced the colonial-era Admiralty Court Act, 1861, and the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890.
Section 4 of the Admiralty Act, under which the Kerala government is seeking compensation, states that the High Court 'may exercise jurisdiction to hear and determine any question on a maritime claim, against any vessel, arising out of…damage… caused by the vessel to the environment…; measures taken to… remove such damage; compensation for such damage,' etc.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In its admiralty suit, the Kerala government is seeking Rs 9,531 crore maritime claims, of which Rs 8,626.12 crore is for environmental damage, and Rs 378.48 crore for environmental restoration and to prevent or remove the damage caused to the environment by the capsized ship. The state has sought Rs 526.51 crore for economic losses suffered by the fishing community in Kerala.
With inputs from agencies

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Rave party busted in Hyderabad's Kondapur; 9 people arrested, 2 absconding
Nine people were arrested on Saturday night for allegedly planning to organise a rave party at an apartment in Kondapur area of Hyderabad. Based on intelligence inputs, the Prohibition and Excise Department's State Task Force conducted a route watch and busted the drugs party in Kondapur area. The key accused, who organises drug parties, along with other accused — peddlers, from Andhra Pradesh had booked a service apartment for the proposed party, reported news agency PTI citing an official. The STF team has seized 2.080 kg of dry ganja, 50 grams of OG Kush (hybrid ganja), among other narcotic substances and LSD blot papers from the possession of the accused, which were meant for the rave party, besides six vehicles, the official said. According to the report, a case has been registered against 11 people. Nine accused have been arrested, while two others are absconding. Further probe into the matter is underway. Meanwhile, Pune Police arrested seven persons after busting a "drug party" following a raid at an apartment on Sunday and seized narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor. The raid was conducted around 3.30 AM on Sunday and a "drug party" was busted at the studio apartment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle said at a press conference. During the raid and subsequent search, the police seized 2.7 grams of a cocaine-like substance, 70 gm of a ganja-like substance, a hookah pot, various hookah flavours, and liquor and beer bottles, Pingle said. Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested. "We have arrested seven individuals, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh and Prachi Sharma, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," the DCP said.


Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Questions arise over ‘ineffectivecrowd control, missing cops at site'
Haridwar: The Mansa Devi temple stampede has raised several questions over failure in proper crowd control and management by Haridwar district administration and police, as per locals. Many pointed out that adequate police presence on the pedestrian route and the entrance for better crowd control could have averted the tragedy, adding that the situation was exacerbated by unauthorised structures on the route. Mohan Lal, whose six-year-old nephew Arush died in the stampede, said, "Only if there were proper arrangements on the temple route, my nephew would've been alive today. There was no police presence on the narrow route. It was overcrowded with people moving up and down at the same time, leading to the congestion. Also, no one could move forward... Even after the incident, help arrived late." People started to panic when rumours spread that the temple gates were being closed, Lal said, adding: "It was a terrible sight." Video clips of the stampede showed a huge crowd of men, women and children stuck in a narrow passage leading to the temple. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Retirement Villages Near Sylhe Sadar Senior Living | Search Ads Undo Dozens of people, seemingly glued to each other and hardly moving, could only manage to hold the children above their heads, news agency PTI reported. Mahendra Pratap Singh, an eyewitness who saw the stampede from a rooftop a little distance away, was quoted by PTI as saying that excess crowd was "the only factor to the tragic incident." Ajay Jaiswal, a local, was also quoted by the agency as saying that the administration should have been more alert. "Mansa Devi is the biggest centre of attraction for devotees in Haridwar after Har Ki Pauri. Thousands of devotees come here every day. The crowd swells during the month of Sawan as a rule. Being a Sunday, the possibility of a larger crowd was very much there. So, the administration should have been more alert," he said. Haridwar-based social activist JP Badoni told TOI, "This tragedy could've been averted. Local administration is solely responsible. This is not the first such tragedy in Haridwar. However, lessons from the past have clearly not been learnt. There are over 200 illegally constructed shops along the Mansa Devi pedestrian route, many of which draw electricity illegally. Despite the area being a reserved zone, the forest department never took any action. The religious trust managing the temple also never addressed the growing risks." Badoni urged immediate legal steps against those responsible. Meanwhile, assuring a comprehensive review, DM Mayur Dixit told TOI: "The temple administration has been directed to employ private security. Crowd management protocols at religious sites will undergo review." Soon after the tragedy, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami instructed disaster management secretary Vinod Kumar Suman to conduct a comprehensive assessment of crowd management, route planning and security measures across Uttarakhand's pilgrimage sites to prevent similar incidents in future.


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Man, two daughters killed as truck hits motorcycle
Pune, July 27 (PTI) A 37-year-old man and his two minor daughters were killed after their motorcycle was knocked down by a truck in Baramati city in Pune district on Sunday, police said. The deceased, Omkar Acharya, was returning home in the morning after picking up one of his daughters from a school when the incident occurred in Khandoba Nagar area. 'Acharya picked up his daughter Saee (10) from her school. He, Saee, and his other daughter Madhura (4) were returning home on the motorcycle when a dumper truck hit the bike from behind while attempting to overtake," said a police officer. The trio fell off the bike and sustained serious injuries. They were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival, he said. The truck driver has been arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. PTI SPK NSK Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.