Sri Lankan authorities say they are bracing for a ‘terrible environmental disaster’ after a cargo ship sank off the country’s pristine western coast following a raging 12-day fire on board.
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl, carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid along with other chemicals and cosmetics, was anchored off the port city of Negombo when a fire erupted onboard after an explosion on May 20.
Flaming containers filled with chemicals tumbled into the sea from the ship’s deck as emergency crews sought to contain the blaze over the ensuing two weeks.
The craft, which has nearly 350 tonnes of oil in its fuel tanks, began to sink early on Wednesday and there are fears of a major oil spill.
A salvage crew tried to tow the vessel to deeper water, away from the coast, but the attempt was abandoned after the rear of the ship touched the sea bed.
Environmentalist Ajantha Perera said there was the potential for ‘a terrible environmental disaster’ as hazardous goods, chemicals and oil could be released into the water and destroy marine ecological systems.
Charitha Pattiaratchi, a professor of oceanography at the University of Western Australia, said as many as 3 billion tiny plastic pellets had already been released into the sea and were washing up on beaches. He said the pellets, known as nurdles, ‘will persist in the marine environment forever as they are not biodegradable.’
Sri Lanka readied for the possibility of an oil spill on Thursday after a cargo ship laden with chemicals sank off its western coast
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl, carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid along with other chemicals and cosmetics, was anchored off the port city of Negombo when a fire erupted onboard after an explosion on May 20
The ship’s operators, X-Press Feeders, said in a statement on Thursday there were still no signs of a fuel oil spill from the ship, and that much of the toxic cargo had been incinerated in the fire
Flaming containers filled with chemicals tumbled into the sea from the ship’s deck as emergency crews sought to contain the blaze over the ensuing two weeks
Sri Lanka Navy personnel, wearing protective gear, clear the beach from debris and other materials that washed ashore from the crippled container cargo vessel MV X-Press Pearl, on the beach of Negombo, north-west of Colombo, on Wednesday
Sri Lanka’s private Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) said it feared heavy metal pollution in addition to an oil spill from the Singapore-registered vessel, which was carrying 81 containers of ‘dangerous cargo’ including acids and lead ingots.
‘There is a chemical soup in that sea area,’ the CEJ’s executive director Hemantha Withanage told AFP. ‘The damage to the marine ecosystem is incalculable.’
However, he said the silver lining was that 24 hours after the vessel’s engine room submerged there was no visible sign of the oil leaking.
The ship’s operators, X-Press Feeders, said in a statement on Thursday there were still no signs of a fuel oil spill from the ship, and that much of the toxic cargo had been incinerated in the fire.
The statement said: ‘Salvors remain on scene to deal with any possible debris supported by the Sri Lankan Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, who have oil spill response capabilities on standby.’
Navy spokesperson Indika de Silva said: ‘There is no oil leak from the ship yet, but arrangements are in place to deal with a possible spill which is the worst-case scenario.’
But photos from the country’s coast guard showed a layer of green film blanketing the ocean surrounding the vessel.
The craft began to sink early on Wednesday and a salvage crew tried to tow the vessel to deeper water, away from the coast, but the attempt was abandoned after the rear of the ship touched the sea bed
Millions of plastic pellets have already fouled surrounding beaches and fishing grounds, forcing the government to ban fishing along the 80km stretch of coast
The vessel burned for 13 days and millions of plastic pellets have already fouled surrounding beaches, forcing the government to ban fishing along the 50-mile stretch of coast.
The government has said it would seek redress for the incident.
Minister for ports and ports development Rohitha Abeygunewardene told a news conference late on Wednesday: ‘We hope to get compensation in accordance with local and international law. We will never give up on that effort.
‘We will calculate the cost from the beginning of this incident and claim compensation.’
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Singapore authorities said on Thursday they have started their own investigation into the incident.
The inundation of microplastic granules from the ship’s containers has already forced a fishing ban and prompted concern for the environment.
Smoke billows from the fire stricken Singapore-registered container ship MV X-Press Pearl during a failed attempt to tow it away from the coast of Colombo
Sri Lanka Navy personnel, wearing protective gear, clear the beach from debris and other materials that washed ashore from the crippled container cargo vessel MV X-Press Pearl
The inundation of microplastic granules from the ship’s containers has already forced a fishing ban and prompted concern for the environment. Pictured a fish washed up on a nearby beach surrounded by plastic granules
‘The ban is affecting 4,300 families in my village,’ said Denzil Fernando, the head of the Sea Street Fisherman’s Association in Negombo.
‘Most people live on one meal a day, how long can we go on like this?’ Fernando told AFP. ‘Either the government must allow us to fish or give us compensation.’
Officials believe the blaze destroyed most of the nearly 1,500 containers on board while some fell overboard.
A cargo manifest showed that in addition to the 81 containers classified as dangerous, it was also carrying a large quantity of lubricant oil.
Authorities believe the fire was caused by a nitric acid leak which the crew apparently knew about from May 11, nine days before the blaze started.
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked Australia on Monday to help evaluate the ecological damage to the island, one of the most bio-diverse countries in South Asia.
Sri Lanka has also launched a criminal investigation.
Police said three officers from the ship – two Russians and an Indian – had been questioned and their passports impounded.
The ship was heading to Colombo from India when the blaze started.
The 25-strong crew was evacuated last week. Two of them suffered minor injuries.
