Kochi: The Kerala High Court has asked the Centre, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and the Director General of Shipping (DGS) to explain how and when an independent study will be conducted to assess the long-term impact of the sunken cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 off the Kerala coast.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar issued the direction while hearing a batch of public interest petitions related to marine pollution, navigation risks and the impact of the shipwreck on coastal communities and fishermen.

The court also made the MoEFCC a party to the case and sought its stand on the proposed environmental assessment.

Court raises concerns over cargo and environmental risks

During the hearing, the court examined reports filed before it and noted that 475 of the 643 containers carried by the vessel remain inside the wreck. Another 96 containers are on the seabed, while 72 have washed ashore along the coasts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

According to records placed before the court, the cargo included hazardous calcium carbide, plastic nurdles, rubber chemicals, bamboo sticks, spinning machinery and other mixed goods. The vessel also carried bunker oil, marine diesel and lubricating oil.

The judges expressed concern about the possible long-term consequences of damaged containers and leaking cargo. The court noted that containers carrying calcium carbide and large quantities of plastic nurdles remain a matter of concern, particularly during the monsoon season.

The bench observed that discussions so far appeared to focus mainly on oil recovery, while questions regarding the wreck itself and its future environmental impact also required attention.

Questions over studies and oil recovery operations

The court noted that the DGS had stated oil recovery operations from the vessel were successfully completed in September 2025. It sought details on how that conclusion was reached and whether all recovery and environmental mitigation measures were carried out safely and in compliance with environmental standards.

The bench also questioned reports submitted by consultants engaged by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which reportedly found no major environmental or navigational threat from the wreck.

The DGS has been directed to clarify whether any independent expert agency has been engaged to verify those findings and to state whether the wreck and submerged containers could pose environmental or navigation risks in the future.

The court further observed that, despite references to the need for a comprehensive environmental assessment by government agencies and scientific institutions, no material had been placed on record to show such a study had begun more than a year after the vessel sank.

It asked authorities to specify the institutions capable of carrying out the study, the proposed methodology and the timeframe for completion.

The case has been posted for further hearing on June 23.