Losses up to 200 nautical miles should be considered; company's other ships can be taken into custody to recover compensation: High Court

KOCHI: The High Court has said that the loss of fish resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone up to 200 nautical miles from the coast can be taken into account while determining the damage in the two ship accidents off the Kerala coast. The order was made in a petition filed by Congress leader T.N. Prathapan, seeking compensation for fishermen.

Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar's order said that not only the district collector but also the Director General of Shipping can take legal action for compensation. It was pointed out that other ships owned by the company can be arrested to collect compensation.

The court also directed the petitioner's lawyer Harish Vasudevan to examine the point that an FIR can be registered under the Environmental Protection Act. The central government should take action if the Kerala government cannot.

1754 containers on Wan Hai

The government has informed the High Court that the flammable liquids, chemicals and pesticides on board the WAN HAI 503 ship that caught fire in the Arabian Sea near Kannur are harmful to the environment. There were a total of 1754 containers.

These include ink and thinner. These can seriously affect the ecosystem. The government has also informed that an expert committee has been appointed to assess the environmental damage caused by the sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 ship near the Alappuzha coast.