Yesterday the Supreme Court of Kerala, accepting an appeal by the Government of the State of India represented by the Special Secretary for the Environment, ordered the detention of the container ship MSC Akuteta II, currently moored in Vizhinjam Harbor, urged by the government until the Deposit of 95.31 billion rupees ($1.1 billion) from part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) shipping group or of its Indian shipping agency MSC Agency India. The decision, signed by Judge M. A. Abdul Hakhim, is part of the lawsuit brought by the State of Kerala which requested the issuance of a a verdict requiring the MSC group to pay this sum, plus 6% annual interest until the date of the verdict and plus the 12% interest from the date of the verdict until the receipt of the sum, by way of compensation for damage to the marine environment, to the and related state interests, as well as losses to the fishermen of the State, caused by the sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 container carrier owned by MSC which took place last May 25 in the waters of Kerala.

The Supreme Court document specifies that the MSC Akuteta II is owned by Nairne Ocean Way Limited, with the MSC as ship manager and as of holding a substantial interest in the owner of the ship. The case will be reviewed by the Supreme Court on Thursday next.