Kerala HC directs panel to resume negotiations with MSC Elsa 3 owners to assess compensation, other costs

MSC Elsa 3, a container ship carrying hazardous cargo, that sank off the Keralam coast in the Arabian Sea on May 25, 2025. | Photo Credit: File photo

The Kerala High Court has directed the State committee led by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance department, to resume negotiations with Mediterranean Shipping Company, to assess the environmental impact of MSC Elsa 3 - a container ship that sank off the Alappuzha coast in May 2025. 

The Liberian-flagged ship that sunk caused extensive marine and coastal pollution on the shores of Keralam and Tamil Nadu. The Keralam government had formed a committee to assess the extent of the damage and to negotiate the compensation for the environmental damage, required restoration and other economic losses to the State, its ecology, and to the fishing community.

The Division Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar was considering a batch of public interest litigations seeking the removal of the hazardous wreckage of the sunken vessel and the compensation to fishers affected by the sinking of the ship. The court stated that the committee was intended to facilitate a coordinated response to the environmental damage and to enable the State to pursue the necessary assessment and restoration measures without undue delay.  

The court was earlier apprised that a multibeam survey to assess the wreckage could be conducted, and an agency had been finalised to execute the survey. The shipping company had informed the court that the scope of work for the survey should be jointly formulated by the stakeholders and furnished to the agency. The court was informed that the Special Secretary, Environment department, would furnish the scope of work on behalf of the State. 

The court directed the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to add their suggestions to the scope of work being consolidated by DG Shipping within one week. 

Published - October 28, 2026 07:39 pm IST