The Director General of Shipping (DGS) has issued a stern 48-hour deadline to MSC Ship Management Limited, demanding immediate oil recovery operations from the sunken vessel MSC Elsa 3. The ship sank off the Kerala coast on May 24, 2025.
Failure to Act May Lead to Legal Action
In a formal letter to MSC, the DGS stated that continued delay and inaction by the shipowners and their appointed salvors, T&T Salvage, constitute negligence and a breach of statutory duties. If oil extraction does not begin within 48 hours, the government will explore all legal avenues, including penalties and prosecution.
Multiple Laws May Be Invoked
The warning includes possible action under various laws such as the:
- Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Disaster Management Act, 2005
The government emphasized that any further delay will be treated as intentional noncompliance and will trigger full legal enforcement without further notice.
Delay Puts Marine Environment at Risk
According to the DGS, the failure to begin oil recovery poses a serious threat to Indian waters and coastal ecosystems. The prolonged presence of oil sheen, debris, and wreckage is impacting marine life and affecting the livelihoods of Kerala’s coastal communities, particularly fishing-dependent populations.
Repeated Instructions Ignored
Despite several meetings and directives, MSC and its salvors delayed the mobilisation of critical equipment. The Diving Support Vessel (DSV) arrived only after May 30, and tugboats reached the site after June 1, delaying operations significantly.
Lack of Proper Diving Operations Highlighted
The DGS also noted that the required saturation diving method, necessary at the 51-metre wreck depth, has not been carried out. Instead, salvors have only attempted basic air diving, which is not adequate for oil extraction from the sunken ship’s tanks. Even the capping of vents, which should have been completed earlier, remains unfinished.
Weather Window Missed Due to Delays
The oil recovery operation was originally planned to begin around June 5, but no extraction has started yet. The limited weather window before the onset of the monsoon has now been missed, largely due to the salvors’ failure to deploy equipment and personnel in time, according to the DGS.
