MSC boosts capacity and switches hubs on South Asia services
MSC is rebooting its hub operations for the ocean trades in and out of South ...
MSC Elsa Image: Indian Coastguard
India’s high court in Kerala has ordered authorities at Vizhinjam port to detain the MSC Manasa F, a feeder vessel, in response to a complaint filed by a local trading group alleging damage from the recent sinking of MSC Elsa 3 off Cochin on 24 May.
The MSC Manasa F is currently at berth in Vizhinjam, according to available information.
Sources said the court’s intervention followed a petition filed by the Cashew Export Promotion Council claiming heavy losses, due to the loss of cargo on the ill-fated ship.
The MSC Manasa F is part of the Geneva-based carrier’s Haldia shuttle service, covering Colombo port in Sri Lanka as well as Haldia and Paradip ports on India’s east coast. MSC has a expansive network of shuttle services out of Vizhinjam amid rapidly growing regional transhipment volumes.
The court directed the ship be released only when the ship owner/operator makes a security deposit or settles claims demanded by the complainants.
According to reports, MSC has agreed to deposit around $700,000, with the court to secure the release of the Liberia-flagged feeder vessel, built in 2002.
The court action is another sign that legal troubles are growing for MSC and its crew members. The Loadstar reported yesterday that local police had registered a criminal case against them.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), India’s maritime administrator, is said to have issued fresh notices to both MSC and Wan Hai Lines over alleged delays and a lack of preparedness in responding to recent ship accidents that have potentially serious environmental consequences for the coastline.
DG Shipping warned the carriers that a failure to handle salvage operations with greater urgency “could invite serious legal consequences”, according to sources.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of Defence, co-ordinating the efforts to extinguish fire on the Wan Hai 503, has also raised serious concerns over this latest ship casualty.
“The vessel is carrying 2,128 tonnes of fuel and hundreds of containers, including [some containing] hazardous cargo, posing a serious risk to the marine environment and regional shipping routes,” said the ministry.
“With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline and pull the vessel away from the coast are under way to prevent a potential ecological disaster. The situation remains critical and is being monitored continuously,” it added.
The 2005-built Wan Hai 503 was deployed on the Taiwanese carrier’s India-China service, operated jointly with Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, and Interasia Lines, en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva when explosions on board were reported.
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