Underwater survey to be done to assess long-term impact of MSC Elsa 3 sinking, Centre informs Kerala HC
Centre to conduct underwater survey on MSC Elsa 3 sinking's long-term environmental impact, confirms Kerala High Court.
The Liberian-flagged vessel owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) sank off the coast of Alappuzha in May 2025, reportedly causing substantial coastal and marine damage to the shores of Keralam and Tamil Nadu
Published - September 15, 2026 01:52 am IST - KOCHI
MSC Elsa 3, a container ship carrying hazardous cargo, sinks off the Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea on May 25, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP
The Central government informed the Kerala High Court that a multi-beam underwater survey would be carried out to assess the long-term environmental implications, marine ecological concerns, the current state of the submerged wreck and the potential future risks of the MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck.
The Liberian-flagged vessel owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) sank off the coast of Alappuzha in May 2025, reportedly causing substantial coastal and marine damage to the shores of Keralam and Tamil Nadu.
The Additional Solicitor General of India appearing for the Centre and the Ministry of Defence informed the Division Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar that two agencies had already been identified for the underwater survey.
He stated that all measures would be taken to carry out the survey as early as possible.
The court was considering a batch of public interest litigations seeking the removal of the hazardous wreckage and compensation for fishermen affected by the incident.
Published - September 15, 2026 01:52 am IST
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