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.
