The Liberian container vessel tilted and lost containers into the sea off the coast of Kerala.
Credit: PTI Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of a second ship mishap in around two weeks time, the Kerala government is under pressure to retract its stand not to initiate legal action against Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) for the sinking of MSC ELSA-3 container ship in the sea off Kerala coast on May 25.
Experts have rejected the Kerala government's contention that the state did not have the jurisdiction to initiate legal action in the incident that happened beyond 12 nautical miles.
The state's stand that initiating legal action against MSC could affect cordial relationships with the major shipping firm that has been operating motherships to the recently commissioned Vizhinjam international seaport, which is run by Adani Ports, is also being widely criticised. It had also triggered allegations of unholy nexuses.
According to lawyer and activist Harish Vasudevan, as per the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act 1976, the exclusive economic zone extends up to 200 nautical miles. Designated police stations in the country, including the Fort Kochi coastal police station in Kerala, could investigate offences committed in exclusive economic zones, he pointed out by posting relevant documents on social media.
Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front asked the government to clarify the reason for not initiating legal action against MSC. In all such earlier instances along the sea off Indian coast legal actions were initiated, opposition leader V D Satheesan said.