No case against MSC ELSA-3 tragedy, insurance claim enough, says govt

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has decided not to file a case with the police in the incident of the sinking of the cargo ship MSC ELSA-3 off the Kerala coast. The decision was taken in the meeting attended by chief minister and the director general of shipping under the central government on May 29. The information about the government's decision came out while discussions were underway on the police not filing a case in the shipwreck, which raised environmental concerns.

The government's plan is to find a solution through an insurance claim alone without dragging MSC, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, into a criminal case. According to a note prepared by Chief Secretary A Jayathilak in connection with the meeting, the government's stance is that the emphasis should now be on receiving evidence of damage and this will be helpful in obtaining an insurance claim.

Meanwhile, the world's largest container ship of the same company berthed at the Vizhinjam port today. The ship, MSC IRINA, was docked at the Vizhinjam port at 8 am. The ship was welcomed with a water salute.