High court on Tuesday directed the Vizhinjam port authorities to arrest the vessel MV MSC Palermo, a sister ship of MSC Elsa 3, which capsized and sank off the Kerala coast on May 25, until ₹2.60 crore is deposited towards the claim raised by the owners of four fishing boats for losses allegedly caused by the shipwreck.
Justice S Eswaran issued the order on four admiralty suits filed by Shaji of Arattupuzha, owner of the fishing boat Saravana-2; Purushothaman of Nayarambalam in Paravur, owner of Pareekshanam 1; T B Satheesan of Kuzhippilly, owner of Ayyappa Jyothy; and T G Venu of Nayarambalam, owner of Adithyan.
The petitioners alleged that, at the time of the shipwreck, their boats and crews were at sea when floating containers and sharp debris from the capsized MSC Elsa 3, including submerged materials, got entangled in their fishing nets, causing severe damage. They further claimed loss of metal chains, ropes and other fishing gear.
Shaji sought ₹1.30 crore, including ₹80 lakh for revenue loss over 32 days; Purushothaman claimed ₹35.08 lakh; Satheesan ₹34.79 lakh; and Venu ₹59.86 lakh. The court clarified that MV MSC Palermo may be released from arrest, without any further order, if the shipping company produces a demand draft for ₹2.60 crore before the high court registry.
Earlier, the state government had itself filed an admiralty suit seeking ₹9,531 crore in maritime claims for alleged grave and widespread environmental and economic damage caused by the capsizing of MSC Elsa 3. Several cashew-importing companies have also approached HC seeking compensation for losses allegedly suffered due to the incident.
