The depositing of a ₹1,227 crore bank guarantee by the owners of the cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 before the Kerala High Court to secure the release of its sister vessel impounded by the court marked a significant step forward in enforcing accountability within India’s maritime and environmental governance framework. It sends a clear signal that even global shipping giants like Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) are not above the law, said Greenpeace India in a statement here on Saturday.
MSC Elsa 3 case: Kerala High Court cuts security amount to ₹1,227.62 crore
“This deposit is an admission of corporate negligence and a first step toward compensating communities whose livelihoods were disrupted for months. But money sitting in a court registry does not heal a damaged marine ecosystem or feed fishing families,” said Amruta S.N., campaigner at Greenpeace India.
Greenpeace report
“As documented in Greenpeace India’s Wrecked Futures report, in just one surveyed fishing village, a whopping 95.5% of households reported income losses. These figures show the depth of harm faced by small-scale fishers across the coast. The MSC must do their due diligence of paying up the full compensation to the fishing communities for the harm they caused. Calling for a transparent and accountable mechanism to ensure that affected communities receive timely and fair compensation for their losses, she said the State must establish a decentralised, accessible claims mechanism so no fisher is excluded from justice.”
