Sri Lanka Seeks $40 Million in Damages from Operator of Fire-stricken Ship MV X-Press Pearl

Sri Lanka has sought $40 million in damages from the operator of a ship that is sinking off the country’s west coast after a devastating fire on board, officials said on Saturday.

Rohitha Abeygunawardena, the country’s minister of ports and shipping, said that an interim damage claim had been filed via the Attorney General with X-Press Feeders, the company that controls the MV X-Press Pearl.

The vessel has been submerged in Sri Lankan waters off Colombo from June 2 after burning for about two weeks and releasing tonnes of plastic and potentially harmful materials that swamped the country’s pristine beaches.

Environmentalists have called it the “worst ecological disaster” in Sri Lanka’s history.

The country has sought help from Australia in studying the devastating impact of the incident on the marine economy. A fishing ban had been imposed following the disaster.

Kanchana Wijesekera, Sri Lanka’s fisheries minister said that the previously imposed ban along an 80-kilometre stretch of the coastline was lifted on Saturday, excepting in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage.

Almost 20,000 families of fishermen had been affected by the temporary ban. Meanwhile, many Sri Lankan beaches have been able to clean up plastic waste.

Officials said that about 1,200 tonnes of plastic pellets and debris scooped from the beaches have been stored in 45 shipping containers.

On May 20, the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl reported an acid leak and caught fire as it was about to enter the Colombo harbour.

The fire was finally put out after 13 days, but the cargo ship’s stern hit the bottom when a tug attempted to move it deeper into the sea.

Two onboard explosions caused cargo containers to drop into the Indian Ocean. Plastic raw materials later blanketed the western seaboard of the island.

An official who has been involved in the beach clean-up said that it would take about two more weeks to get rid of the piles of plastic waste they have collected so far. Only about 1,200 tonnes have been stored and a similar amount still needs to be removed.

Testing of an oil slick in the north of the port of Colombo is underway. It will help determine if the leak has resulted from the wreckage.

X-Press Feeders, the operators of MV X-Press Pearl, said that an inspection of the wreckage found no oil leak from the vessel’s fuel tanks. However, water in the area has been discoloured since the ship sank.

X-Press Feeders has also pressed the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation and Oil Spill Response representatives to monitor oil spills (if any) and assist in the clean-up of the polluted beaches.

Last week, Sri Lankan activists and environmentalists sued the vessel’s operator and the government for failing to prevent the disaster.

Disclaimer :
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Latest Shipping News You Would Like:

U.S Navy And The Philippines Begin Joint Naval Drills In South China Sea Amidst Tensions With China

Posted on October 3, 2023

In a show of force against China amid ever growing tensions in the much-disputed waterway, defense allies the Philippines and the US started conducting combined naval activities on Monday.

Captain Of Cargo Ship Carrying €157million Worth Of Cocaine Appears In Wexford Court

Posted on October 3, 2023

The ship captain of the MV Matthew got a bail rejection after he appeared at the court on being charged over the €157 million cocaine seizure off the country’s south coast.

Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron Warships Arrive At Port Klang, Malaysia

Posted on October 3, 2023

As part of the Indian Navy’s log-range deployment in Southeast Asia, the vessels of the First Training Squadron (1TS)-ICGS Sarathi, INS Tir, and INS Sujata are visiting Malaysia’s Port Klang.

Environmental Groups Demand Rules To Protect The North Atlantic Right Whale From Ship Collisions

Posted on October 3, 2023

A coalition of environmental groups has been calling on the country’s federal government to have in place emergency rules to safeguard a fast-vanishing species of whale from collisions with large vessels.

U.S Navy And Lockheed Martin Fire Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile With A 4000 NM Range

Posted on October 3, 2023

The Fleet Ballistic Missile — One Trident II D5 Life Extension, was successfully launched on 27 September by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy, off the coast of California.