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Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Kerala High Court Orders Rs 6 Crore Security Deposit For Release Of Sunken Ship's Sister Vessel
The Kerala High Court has issued a directive preventing the release of a sister vessel belonging to the same fleet as the sunken Liberian ship MSC Elsa 3, unless owners provide a security deposit of Rs 6 crore. This judicial order came in response to a legal petition submitted by six cashew importing companies who suffered losses when their cargo went down with the vessel. The petitioning cashew importers maintained that their valuable consignments were aboard MSC Elsa 3 when it sank off Kerala's coastline on May 25, 2025. Their legal representative, Advocate Joy Thattil, informed the court that proceedings would resume at 1:45 PM on the same day, with expectations that the shipping company would present evidence of the required deposit payment. Kerala police have initiated criminal proceedings against the vessel's ownership, captain, and crew members on charges of reckless navigation. The First Information Report, lodged at Fort Kochi Coastal police station on June 11, invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, encompassing reckless navigation, negligent handling of dangerous materials, and creating impediments in public waterways. The container ship was transporting 640 containers when it capsized in the Arabian Sea, positioned 14.6 nautical miles from Kerala's shore. Among the cargo were 13 containers containing hazardous substances and 12 carrying calcium carbide, along with substantial quantities of diesel (84.44 metric tonnes) and furnace oil (367.1 metric tonnes). The incident has created widespread environmental concerns, with drifting containers washing ashore across Alappuzha, Kollam, and Ernakulam districts. Local fishing communities have reportedly suffered significant financial losses, with damages estimated in lakhs of rupees due to marine pollution and disrupted fishing activities. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Kerala government officially classified the MSC Elsa 3 wreckage as a state-specific disaster on May 29, 2025. This designation acknowledges the incident's far-reaching environmental, social, and economic consequences for the region. The government order highlighted particular concerns about potential oil spills and the dispersal of hazardous cargo debris, which pose ongoing risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities. The complaint initiating the criminal case was filed by C Shamji, a resident of Alappuzha district, reflecting local community concerns about the incident's impact.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Sister vessel of sunken Liberian ship to be held for deposit: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has directed state port authorities not to release a sister vessel of the Liberian ship MSC Elsa 3 unless a deposit of Rs 6 crore is furnished. The court passed this order on a petition filed by six cashew importers, who claimed that their consignments were on board MSC Elsa 3, the ship that sank off the state's coast on May 25. The court stated that the vessel may be released if proof of the deposit is Joy Thattil, counsel for the petitioners, told the court that the matter will be considered again at 1.45 pm today, during which the company is expected to provide evidence of the Kerala police have registered a case of rash navigation against the owner, master and crew of MSC Elsa 3, which was flagged in Liberia. The container vessel sank near Alappuzha district while reportedly carrying hazardous and combustible cargo. A First Information Report was filed at the Fort Kochi Coastal police station on June 11 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to rash navigation, negligence with hazardous substances, and causing obstruction in a public navigational route. According to the FIR, the ship's owners and crew are accused of handling the vessel negligently, leading to its sinking and a subsequent environmental impact. The complaint alleges that hazardous materials were not managed properly, and that drifting containers have caused significant damage to the marine environment and affected the livelihoods of the fishing community, resulting in financial losses running into lakhs of rupees. The case was filed based on a complaint by C Shamji, a resident of Alappuzha Ministry of Defence has stated that MSC Elsa 3 was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous material and 12 containing calcium carbide. It was also loaded with 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace May 29, the Kerala government declared the wreckage of MSC Elsa 3 a state-specific disaster, given its potential environmental, social and economic implications. The Liberian-flagged ship had capsized and sunk in the Arabian Sea, 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. Since the sinking, containers have been found drifting ashore at various points along the coast in Alappuzha, Kollam and Ernakulam to a government order, the incident raised serious environmental concerns, particularly the risk of oil spills and the spread of hazardous cargo debris. IN THIS STORY#Kerala
