INDIA’S Directorate General of Shipping has enacted new guidelines on the carriage of nurdles — the lentil-sized polyethylene and polypropylene pellets widely used as a raw material in plastics manufacturing — following a major casualty just outside its territorial waters last year.

While DGS circular 19/2026 does not mention any vessels by name, a reference to “recent incidents along the Indian coastline” seemingly points to the sinking of Mediterranean Shipping Company’s MSC Elsa 3 (IMO: 9123221) in May 2025.

The incident caused a spill of millions of nurdles, damaging ecosystems and beaches across South Asia, as monsoon currents carried the pollution as far as Sri Lanka.

Kerala’s state government is seeking more than $1bn in compensation, with the Aponte-led boxship giant fighting the claim in court.

International Group P&I clubs, which could find themselves on the hook for any eventual payout, are naturally keeping an eye on developments.

The case is before the magistrates’ court in Thoppumpady, Kochi, in the southeastern state of Kerala. But as India’s judicial system does not always proceed with alacrity, the litigation could drag on for years.

Under India’s new rules, which have already entered into force, vessels carrying plastic pellets to, from, or through Indian ports must ensure the cargo is stowed under deck only, with carriage on deck prohibited.

The circular also requires nurdles to be packaged to standards at least equivalent to those prescribed for dangerous goods under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code, helping to prevent losses during transport.

The circular reflects wider developments at the International Maritime Organization. The IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response subcommittee is mulling the introduction of beefed-up measures under Marpol Annex III for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea.