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16 Sayurusara 2021 December
Introduction Even if authorities managed to seal the oil
containers aboard the X-Press Pearl, the fuel will
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl, remain at the bottom of the ocean and could start
delivered only in February, reported smoke in a leaking any time. Maybe a black tide doesn’t touch
cargo hold after it arrived at Colombo anchorage the Sri Lankan coast in the next days or months,
on 20th May carrying 1486 containers, including but in 30, 40, or 50 years, there will be a leak, and
81 Dangerous Goods Containers and 25 tons of the hydrocarbons will end up getting there. Even
Nitric Acid. The cargo ship carrying chemicals if it looks like the problem is fixed today, it’s just
caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka - leaving in pollution being delayed through time.
its wake an environmental disaster that the island
will likely have to live with for decades. Sequence of events unfolded immediately
before and after the fire was reported
Despite fire-fighting efforts, the fire grew
to engulf the entire vessel and the X- Press Pearl The ship initially reported a fire on 20th May
eventually sank as salvors were attempting to after arriving at the anchorage with a container
tow it to deeper waters. The ship’s stern is now leaking nitric acid. Efforts to extinguish the fire
resting on the bottom at depth of about 21 meters on board have been ongoing since it was first
while the forward section remains partially afloat. reported; one day after the X-Press Pearl arrived
The ship is reported to be carrying 297 tonnes of at an anchorage approximately 9.5 miles off the
Heavy Fuel Oil and 51 tonnes of Marine Fuel Oil. coast of Colombo with a container leaking nitric
acid.
Onboard the ship, there were towers of
containers stacked upon each other, many There were 1486 containers on board when
containing chemicals highly dangerous to the the fire started, of which 81 were reported as
environment - some of these had already been Dangerous Goods Containers, including 25
leaked into the water, sparking fears that it may tonnes of Nitric Acid. Although the cause of the
poison marine life. Although the ship’s operator initial fire is still under investigation, a container
reported that no noticeable fuel oil had spilled that was leaking nitric acid was identified prior to
from the vessel, chemicals and small plastic its arrival in Sri Lanka waters.
pellets had been released into the environment
and spread to nearby beaches and fishing The ship had reportedly undergone discharge and
grounds. Aside from the environmental threats, loading operations in both Hamad Port in Qatar
there are also devastating consequences for the and Hazira Port in India before continuing on its
local communities, fishermen who overnight lost planned journey to Colombo. Applications had
their livelihoods and will likely suffer for years to been made to both ports to offload the container
come. that was leaking nitric acid, but the advice given
was there were no specialist facilities or On 20th
Introduction Even if authorities managed to seal the oil
containers aboard the X-Press Pearl, the fuel will
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl, remain at the bottom of the ocean and could start
delivered only in February, reported smoke in a leaking any time. Maybe a black tide doesn’t touch
cargo hold after it arrived at Colombo anchorage the Sri Lankan coast in the next days or months,
on 20th May carrying 1486 containers, including but in 30, 40, or 50 years, there will be a leak, and
81 Dangerous Goods Containers and 25 tons of the hydrocarbons will end up getting there. Even
Nitric Acid. The cargo ship carrying chemicals if it looks like the problem is fixed today, it’s just
caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka - leaving in pollution being delayed through time.
its wake an environmental disaster that the island
will likely have to live with for decades. Sequence of events unfolded immediately
before and after the fire was reported
Despite fire-fighting efforts, the fire grew
to engulf the entire vessel and the X- Press Pearl The ship initially reported a fire on 20th May
eventually sank as salvors were attempting to after arriving at the anchorage with a container
tow it to deeper waters. The ship’s stern is now leaking nitric acid. Efforts to extinguish the fire
resting on the bottom at depth of about 21 meters on board have been ongoing since it was first
while the forward section remains partially afloat. reported; one day after the X-Press Pearl arrived
The ship is reported to be carrying 297 tonnes of at an anchorage approximately 9.5 miles off the
Heavy Fuel Oil and 51 tonnes of Marine Fuel Oil. coast of Colombo with a container leaking nitric
acid.
Onboard the ship, there were towers of
containers stacked upon each other, many There were 1486 containers on board when
containing chemicals highly dangerous to the the fire started, of which 81 were reported as
environment - some of these had already been Dangerous Goods Containers, including 25
leaked into the water, sparking fears that it may tonnes of Nitric Acid. Although the cause of the
poison marine life. Although the ship’s operator initial fire is still under investigation, a container
reported that no noticeable fuel oil had spilled that was leaking nitric acid was identified prior to
from the vessel, chemicals and small plastic its arrival in Sri Lanka waters.
pellets had been released into the environment
and spread to nearby beaches and fishing The ship had reportedly undergone discharge and
grounds. Aside from the environmental threats, loading operations in both Hamad Port in Qatar
there are also devastating consequences for the and Hazira Port in India before continuing on its
local communities, fishermen who overnight lost planned journey to Colombo. Applications had
their livelihoods and will likely suffer for years to been made to both ports to offload the container
come. that was leaking nitric acid, but the advice given
was there were no specialist facilities or On 20th
