In Thiruvananthapuram, over 20 crew members are stranded aboard the MSC Akiteta II, a container ship currently anchored at Vizhinjam port. This situation arose after the Kerala High Court ordered the ship’s arrest in July, requiring MSC to pay a hefty security deposit of ₹1,227.62 crore for its release. Initially, the state government had demanded around ₹9,000 crore to address pollution concerns from the sinking of another vessel, MSC Elsa 3, off the Alappuzha coast.
The crew has been aboard the ship for two months and faces an uncertain future, as crew changes are not feasible under the current circumstances. Many crew members are unable to return home, and those whose contracts expire may have to stay on indefinitely. Some are also missing out on festival holidays due to the ongoing situation. Adani Ports is currently supplying essential provisions, including food and medical supplies, to the stranded crew.
The MSC Akiteta II encountered mechanical issues recently, which delayed its operations and affected other vessels waiting to enter the port. The ship is classified as Cargo – Hazard A, indicating its capability to transport hazardous materials. Experts suggest that the company should settle the reduced compensation amount promptly to facilitate the ship’s release; otherwise, both the crew and the vessel may remain stuck at Vizhinjam indefinitely.
