Plea to claim environmental damages from shipping company

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday ordered notice to the State on a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the Centre and the State to file an Admiralty Suit or an appropriate petition before a competent forum to claim environmental damages from Mediterranean Shipping Company.

In 2025, one of its vessels sank off the Kerala coast which resulted in plastic pellets and oil spillage along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu affecting the marine ecosystem.

The notice was ordered by a Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman, which was hearing a petition filed by Thirumurugan of Ramanathapuram district. The petitioner said on May 24, 2025, a Liberian ship, MSC ELSA 3, left Vizhinjam Seaport in Kerala, carrying 643 containers.

The containers were carrying hazardous materials and plastic pellets. The vessel was carrying approximately 450 tonnes of marine fuel. On May 25, 2025, the vessel sank off the coast of Kerala. Oil slick was detected and more than 60 tonnes of nurdles were found along the coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said.

He said the sinking of MSC ELSA 3 had a significant ripple effect along the T.N. coast where both environmental and logistical impacts were recorded. The plastic nurdles were washed ashore in 36 coastal villages of Kanniyakumari district. The fishermen were affected due to the marine pollution.

He sought a direction to the Centre and the State to file an appropriate petition before the competent forum against the shipping company to claim environmental damages.

He also sought a direction to the authorities to constitute an Expert Committee or a Special Task Force to take immediate action for the removal of oil spill and plastic pellets in a scientific manner. The court posted the matter for hearing after four weeks.