Cargo vessel sinking: Plea to claim damages from shipping firm

Madurai: Citing the sinking of a cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, off the Kerala coast in 2025, which resulted in plastic pellets spilling along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, a plea was moved before the Madras high court on Friday seeking a direction to the Centre and state to file an admiralty suit or an appropriate petition before a competent forum to claim environmental damages from the concerned shipping company.A division bench of justice N Sathish Kumar and justice M Jothiraman ordered notice to the state while hearing a public interest litigation filed by G Thirumurugan of Ramanathapuram district.The petitioner stated that a Liberian container ship, MSC ELSA 3, departed from Vizhinjam seaport in Kerala. The vessel was laden with 643 containers. The vessel was also carrying hazardous materials and plastic pellets (nurdles). Additionally, the vessel carried approximately more than 450 metric tonnes of marine fuel oil. The vessel sank off the Kerala coast on May 25, 2025.He stated that an oil slick was detected and more than 60 metric tonnes of nurdles were found along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Plastic nurdles have spread along the shores of 36 coastal villages in Kanyakumari district. The nurdles were also found in the coastal areas of Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district.The petitioner stated that the sinking of the vessel had a significant ripple effect along the Tamil Nadu coast, where both environmental and logistical impacts were recorded. This has resulted in the pollution of the marine ecosystem. Fishermen in the district are also affected due to the marine pollution.Hence, the petitioner moved court.