Latest news with #MSCElsa
India Today
14 hours ago
- India Today
No pollution after sinking: Liberian sunken ship company denies Kerala's claims
The company owning the vessel MSC Elsa has challenged the Kerala government's Rs 9,531 crore claim in the Kerala High Court, stating the government lacks jurisdiction over the company informed the court that the ship sank approximately 14.5 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, beyond India's territorial waters and the state's coastal jurisdiction. It argued there is no evidence of marine pollution, environmental damage, or harm to fisheries caused by the to the company, only 13 containers with dangerous goods were on board, none of which fell into the sea. Analysis by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board showed no significant change in seawater or air quality near the incident site. Analysis reports from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board revealed no noticeable variation in seawater quality related to the Vessel Elsa 3 incident. Air quality monitoring in nearby beach areas also showed no changes linked to the company also stated that fishing falls under the Central Government's exclusive jurisdiction and denied any fishing ban imposed by Kerala. It added that if the state imposed a ban (which it denies), it alone is responsible for any resulting consequences, not the vessel's owners or Liberian-flagged container vessel MSC Elsa 3 sank 14.6 nautical miles off the Thottappalli spillway on May 25, raising major environmental on July 7, the High Court ordered the arrest of the vessel MSC Akiketa II, a sister ship of the MSC Elsa following the state government's suit seeking compensation for pollution damage, remedial costs, and fishermen's livelihood losses. The company has now requested the release of this Kerala government has maintained that swift legal action was necessary to hold the responsible parties accountable and to secure fair compensation for the damages incurred.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Kerala
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Foreign technicians, divers arrive to extract oil from MSC Elsa 3
Over two-and-a-half months after the capsize of the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa off the coast of Kerala, foreign technicians and divers have arrived at the Kollam port to assist in containing and extracting oil and other hazardous materials from the ship. The immigration officials posted at Kollam issued the passes for the technicians who were transported to the site from the Kollam port using offshore support vessels. Oil slicks from the ship were spotted again on Monday (August 4, 2025), although it was not clear whether the underwater divers had started working on the leakage from the ship. According to State government officials, the Coast Guard team that had been patrolling in the area had spotted the oil slicks. With improved weather conditions over the Arabian Sea, the foreign technicians and divers have been pressed into extracting the oil from the sunken ship. There were around 640 containers onboard when the ship capsized on its way from Vizhinjam to Kochi on May 24. Among the containers, 13 were classified as hazardous, and 12 contained calcium carbide. The ship also had 84.44 tonnes of diesel and 367.1 tonnes of furnace oil, raising serious environmental concerns. Now, Kollam port has been selected as the logistic hub for the diving operation owing to its proximity, with adequate draft (7 metres). Kollam is also an ideal place for project coordination, offering efficient turnaround times (approximately 4.5 hours to the site) and administrative ease compared to Kochi, as the ship was sunk between Alappuzha and Kollam. The mobilisation of the Southern Nova vessel also marked a critical transition into the next operational phase, which focusses on deep-sea fuel extraction from the sunken ship using saturation diving. Earlier in June, an oil slick from the ship measuring approximately 9.3 km long in the sea with a visible silver/metallic reflection was spotted by Greenpeace South Asia, although the salvors had claimed the successful capping of the oil leaks. It is estimated that the entire oil recovery from the ship will take around four weeks, subject to weather conditions. The sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 on May 24, 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi, has sparked significant environmental concern, with oil and chemical leaks posing a serious threat to marine ecosystems along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coast, and has been declared a 'State-specific disaster' by the Kerala government.
India Today
08-07-2025
- India Today
Kerala High Court orders arrest of Liberian ship's sister vessel after state plea
The Kerala High Court has ordered the arrest of the vessel MSC Akiketa II, a sister ship of the Liberian-flagged container ship, MSC Elsa 3, which sank off the state's coast on May 24. The court's directive comes in response to a plea filed by the Kerala government seeking compensation for the environmental and economic damage caused by the state government has claimed approximately Rs 9,531 crore in damages. This figure includes the cost of pollution control and remediation efforts, as well as compensation for the loss of livelihood suffered by the local fishing community following the court's decision to order the arrest of the MSC Akiketa II, which is reportedly owned or operated by the same entities associated with MSC Elsa, is intended to secure the government's claim as legal proceedings continue. The arrest of the vessel, which is currently within Indian waters, ensures that the ship cannot leave jurisdiction until the matter is resolved or appropriate security is furnished. Authorities have said the MSC Elsa's sinking led to significant ecological disruption and affected the daily income of fishermen along the Kerala coast. The Kerala government has maintained that swift legal action was necessary to hold the responsible parties accountable and to secure fair compensation for the damages incurred.- Ends
News18
08-07-2025
- News18
Kerala HC Orders Arrest Of Sunk Vessel's Sister Ship After State Seeks Rs 9,531 Crore In Damages
Last Updated: On May 25, MSC Elsa, carrying over 643 containers, including hazardous cargo and plastic pellets, capsized about 13 nautical miles from Thottapally spillway off Kerala coast The Kerala High Court has ordered the conditional arrest of MSC Akiteta-II, a sister vessel of the Liberian vessel MSC Elsa, which sank off the state's coast. The government has filed an admiralty suit and sought Rs 9,531 crore as compensation, including for pollution damage, remedial action taken by the state and the loss of livelihood of fishermen. The ship is currently at the Vizhinjam port in Trivandrum and according to the order, the vessel can leave the port only if the company gives a security for the amount. Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup and advocate Parvathy kottol, government pleader, appeared for the state. In its plaint, the State invoked Section 4 of the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017, to seek compensation, including Rs 8,626.12 crore for pollution damage, Rs 378.48 crore for environmental restoration, and Rs 526.51 crore for economic losses suffered by fishermen and coastal communities, amounting to a total maritime claim of Rs 9,531.11 crore. The State also asked that interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum be awarded from the date of suit till judgment and thereafter at 12 per cent till realisation. It was on May 25 that MSC Elsa capsized approximately 13 nautical miles from the Thottapally spillway off the Kerala coast. According to the admiralty suit, the vessel was carrying over 643 containers, including hazardous cargo and plastic pellets known as 'nurdles'. According to the suit, 'The incident has resulted in massive pollution of Kerala's marine ecosystem, with oil slicks and floating cargo causing serious detriment to the environment, coastal fisheries, and public health." As on June 30, over 61 containers have washed ashore along the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam, and approximately 59.6 metric tons of plastic nurdles have been collected and transported from Veli Beach to Kollam Port. Manual and mechanical clean-up continues with the aid of 600 government personnel and 300 volunteers under the supervision of the Marine Emergency Response Centre. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) declared the incident a 'state disaster". Financial relief has been sanctioned to 78,498 fishermen families and 27,020 allied families at Rs 21,000 per person, along with free ration of 6kg rice per head. The fish market has also suffered a severe crash due to contamination fears. The admiralty suit also stated that six cetacean carcasses, including dolphins and a whale, have been found ashore, suspected to have died due to exposure to microplastics and toxic substances released from the vessel. First Published: July 08, 2025, 10:03 IST
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Kerala High Court orders arrest of cargo ship in Rs 9,531-crore damage case
In response to Kerala government's admiralty suit seeking a claim of Rs 9,531 crore following the wreck of container vessel MSC Elsa-3 along the state's coast, the high court on Monday directed the conditional arrest of Liberia-flagged container ship MSC Akiteta II which is currently anchored in Vizhinjam port. The bench of Justice M A Abdul Hakim said the vessel MSC Akiteta II 'along with her hull, tackle, engine, machinery spares, gear, apparel, paraphernalia is ordered to be arrested until Rs 9,531 crore is deposited by the ship in the court or until security for the said amount is furnished by the ship'. Vizhinjam port, operated by Adani group, was directed to execute the arrest of the ship. The matter will come up for hearing again on July 10. The vessel MSC Akiteta II is owned by MSC Shipping Co, which owned the sunken ship MSC Elsa. The claim of Rs 9,531 crore is for pollution (oil and cargo), remediation measures and for loss of livelihood caused to fishermen. The Kerala government's secretary to the environment department had filed the admiralty suit, seeking Rs 8,626.12 croes as compensation towards damage caused by MSC Elsa-3 to the environment, coastline and related interests of the state. Another chunk of the claim, Rs 378.48 crore is meant for taking measures to prevent, minimise or remove the damage caused by the said vessel to the environment, coastline, and related interest in the state. The loss for the fishermen has been pegged at Rs 526.51 crore.
