Kerala High Court ordered the arrest of cargo ship in case of loss of Rs 9,531-crores of India

In response to the admiralty suit of Kerala government, there is a claim after Rs 9,531 crore De rubble of container vessel MSC ELSA-3 Along with the state coast, the High Court on Monday directed the conditional arrest of the Liberia-Flagged container ship MSC Akiteta II, which is currently anchor in the Vizinjam port.

A bench of Justice Ma Abdul Hakim said that the vessel MSC Akiteta II “with its hull, tackle, engineer spare, gear, costumes, Parafarnelia is ordered that he is not deposited by ship in the court or unless the ship is protected for the said amount”. The Vijinjam Port operated by the Adani Group was directed to execute the ship’s arrest. The matter will come to hear again on 10 July.

The vessel MSC Akiteta II is owned by MSC Shipping CO, owned by Sunken Ship MSC Elsa. The claim of Rs 9,531 crore is for pollution (oil and cargo), therapeutic measures and loss of livelihood to fishermen.

The Secretary of the Kerala Government of the Environment Department filed a case of admiralty, demanding Rs 8,626.12 as compensation towards the state’s environment, coastline and related interests due to MSc ELSA -3. Another part of the claim, Rs 378.48 crore means to take measures to prevent, reduce or remove the damage done by the said vessel for environment, beach and related interest in the state. The loss for fishermen has been done for Rs 526.51 crore.