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X-Press Pearl

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History
NameX-Press Pearl
OperatorX-Press Feeders
Port of registry Singapore
Completed2021
Out of service27 May 2021
Identification
FateTCL- Total Constructive Loss (Burnt in)
StatusOut of service
General characteristics
Typecontainer ship
Tonnage37,000 DWT
Length186.0 m (610 ft 3 in)
Beam34.0 m (111 ft 7 in)
Capacity2,700 TEUs

X-Press Pearl is a Singaporean container ship which was built in 2021 and it is around 186 metres (610 ft 3 in) long.[1] It is operated by X-Press Feeders which is regarded as the largest feeder operator in the world. On 20 May 2021, the ship caught fire off the Sri Lankan coast of Colombo.[2] On 27 May 2021, the vessel was engulfed in flames and declared a total loss. The vessel is still afloat, and the fire was extinguished by the late hours of 27 May 2021.[3] According to reports, this fire incident is deemed as the worst marine ecological disaster in Sri Lanka.[4][5]

Description and construction

X-Press Pearl was built by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard Co. Ltd of China for Singapore-based X-Press Feeders, along with its sister ship X-Press Mekong.[6][7] The 37,000-deadweight tonne (DWT) container vessel could carry 2,743 twenty-foot equivalent units. The ship was delivered in February 2021.[8]

Fire

The ship departed the port of Hazira, India on 2 May 2021. The container vessel carried 1,486 containers carrying 25 tons of nitric acid, other poisonous chemicals and cosmetics and arrived in Colombo on 19 May.[9] The ship was on the return leg of a 30-day round-trip voyage from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Qatar and Dubai.[citation needed]

X-press Feeders, the owners of the vessel, said the crew had discovered a container leaking nitric acid and had requested Hamad Port in Qatar and Hazira to offload it. The request had been denied as "there were no specialist facilities or expertise immediately available to deal with the leaking acid," and the vessel proceeded on its planned journey to Colombo.[10][11]

The ship had reached Colombo on the night of 19 May and was anchored in the outer harbor awaiting a berth. However, the ship had not declared an emergency nor the cargo acid leak. On 20 May the ship's agents had requested a re-working of the container. Harbour Master Nirmal de Silva said as a maritime hub Colombo had the expertise to help. The vessel had then made its first report of a fire, which the crew had put out using its on board system. [12]

It was reported that the ship caught fire on 20 May 9.5 nautical miles (17.6 km; 10.9 mi) northwest of the Colombo Port.[13] The Sri Lanka Navy along with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority which got aboard the ship in order to find out the cause of fire had suspected that the fire has erupted possibly due to a reaction to the chemicals being transported on the ship.[14] During the fire incident, the vessel had a crew of 25 members on board.[15]

Though initial reports linked the incident to leaking acid, Harbor Master de Silva said the fire had broken out on the number 2 hold of X-Press Pearl while the container was stacked on deck. A fuller investigation was needed to determine the cause, he said.[16]

On 25 May, a large explosion took place inside the vessel and all 25 crew members were evacuated safely from the vessel.[17][18] Two Indian crew members who sustained injuries during the explosion were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.[19][20]

The fire continued to blaze during 25 May and by late afternoon containers were dropping into the sea. The Sri Lanka Maritime Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) declared a Tier II oil spill event from on board bunkers as the blaze got worse.[21] India dispatched firefighting and pollution control Coast Guard vessels, a tug and a Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft to help containment measures and fishermen were asked to stay clear of the ship.[22][23]

Chairperson of MEPA Dharshani Lahandapura said on 26 May that 378 tonnes of oil was on board the vessel and about half could leach into the sea after the fire ended. Bad weather prevented the deployment of oil containment booms around the ship but authorities were ready to clean up oil that reached the shore.[24] By morning burnt debris and some fallen cargo were washing up on Sri Lanka's Negombo coast.[25] On 29 May, X-Press Pearl was still smouldering and belching smoke, though flames were down. Hull integrity was still intact. Firefighting tugs continued to pour water on the ship. The Sri Lanka Air Force dropped dry chemical powder. The Indian Coast Guard vessel ICG Samudra Prahara, a pollution control ship, joined the task force.[26] By May 30 morning the fire was mostly out and water was still being sprayed. X-Press Feeders said salvors were looking at boarding the vessel to set up a tow connection. [27]

Rescue operations

On 21 May 2021, Sri Lankan Navy deployed two offshore patrol vessels, naval ships such as Sagara and Sindurala along with an aircraft in firefighting rescue operations which went in full swing despite inclement weather conditions surrounding the area.[28] It was revealed that the fire has been brought under control on 21 May and the cooling efforts were continued to prevent the fire from flaring up.[29][30] On 22 May, the Sri Lanka Air Force deployed a Bell 212 helicopter in the rescue operations.[31][32] Out of the 25 evacuated crew two were in hospital. One tested positive for Covid-19.[33]

Environmental damage

Sri Lanka's Marine Environmental Protection Authority said it was assessing the environmental damage and collecting evidence. Plans were made to submit an interim claim.[34] Plastic granules from spilled cargo was washing up on Sri Lanka's beaches from 27 May. LDPE and LLDPE granules / plastic pellets have also turned up near Galle in the South. According to MEPA, there were three containers of plastic pellets on board the ship, each weighing 26,000 kg.[35] Health experts and Environment Protection Authority also warned that there are possibilities for mild slight acid rains in Sri Lanka due to the emission of nitrogen dioxide.[36] Sri Lanka authorities banned coastal fishing from Kalutara to Negombo, over contamination fears. About 5,600 one-day boats were unable to venture out and the government promised compensation.[37] People were also urged by the Marine Environmental Protection Authority to not touch any debris of the container ship which are contaminated with toxic substances.[38][39] MEPA said it had started collecting evidence to submit an interim compensation claim for the environmental damage caused by the ship. A police complaint was made to investigate negligence. It was also assembling an expert panel to assess longer term environmental damage. Dead fish and turtles continued to wash up on Sri Lankas beaches and are being examined to determine if it is linked to the spill. [27]

Investigations

Criminal Investigation Department has taken over the investigations regarding the fire incident reported in the container ship.[40] It was revealed that Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne had instructed the Police to hand over the investigations to the CID.[41] The authorities also warned to seek possible legal action against the owners of the container ship X-Press Feeders.[42] On 31 May, the Police Media spokesperson Ajith Rohana revealed that the ten-member police special team recorded statements from both the captain and vice engineer of X-Press Pearl.[43][44]

References

  1. ^ "X PRESS PEARL (Container Ship) Registered in Singapore - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 9875343, MMSI 563118200, Call Sign 9V6962". www.marinetraffic.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  2. ^ Force, Source: Sri Lanka Air (31 May 2021). "Sri Lanka faces environmental disaster as cargo ship burns for days – video". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Singapore flagged X-Press Pearl under watch off Sri Lanka after fire". EconomyNext. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  4. ^ ""Worst Marine Ecological Disaster": Sri Lanka On Cargo Ship Fire". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Sri Lanka faces disaster as burning ship spills chemicals on beaches". the Guardian. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Ship Details - IMO No.: 9875355". new-ships.com. New Ships Orderbook. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Ship Details - IMO No.: 9875343". new-ships.com. New Ships Orderbook. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  8. ^ "The X-PRESS PEARL (2,743 TEU) is delivered". germanlashing.de. German Lashing Robert Böck GmbH. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  9. ^ "'X-PRESS PEARL' instructed to move out of SL waters: MEPA". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  10. ^ "X-Press Pearl entered Hazira and Hamad ports before reaching Sri Lanka: owners". EconomyNext. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  11. ^ "X-Press Pearl was not allowed to offload leaking box in India and Qatar prior to Sri Lanka call". Splash247.com. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  12. ^ "X-Press Pearl fire origin is still a mystery, Sri Lanka official says". EconomyNext.com. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Container fire erupts onboard X-Press Feeders vessel in Colombo". Seatrade Maritime. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Firefighters in Sri Lanka battle container blaze on X-Press Pearl". The Loadstar. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Navy assists dousing of fire in vessel carrying chemicals anchored off Colombo". Daily News. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  16. ^ "X-Press Pearl fire orgin is still a mystery, Sri Lanka official says". EconomyNext.com. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Explosion aboard MV X-PRESS PEARL; crew evacuated". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Explosion reported in 'X-Press Pearl' ship, crew members rescued". Daily News. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  19. ^ "X-PRESS PEARL: 02 Indian crew members admitted to Hospital". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Crew evacuated after explosion on container ship off Colombo". Al Jazeera Media Network. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  21. ^ Hamza, Mahadiya (25 March 2021). "Blazing X-press Pearl off Sri Lanka triggers Tier II oil spill warning". EconomNext.com. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  22. ^ "India sends ships, aircraft to help Sri Lanka control oil spill, X-press Pearl blaze". EconomyNext.com. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Sri Lanka fishermen warned off X-Pres Pearl fire zone amid oil spill fears: Minister". EconomyNext.com. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Sri Lanka prepares for oil spill as burning X-Press Pearl spews cargo and charred debris". EconomyNext.com. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Sri Lanka's Western coast contaminated with debris from burning ship". Newsfirst.com. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  26. ^ "X-Press Pearl still smouldering off Sri Lanka, fire fighting continues". EconomyNext. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  27. ^ a b "X-Press Pearl salvors mull boarding as Sri Lanka eyes pollution claim". EconomNext.com. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  28. ^ "'X-PRESS PEARL' fire continues; SLN & SLPA engaged in containment efforts". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Fire aboard MV X-Press Pearl contained, cooling efforts continue | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  30. ^ "'MV X-Press Pearl' container ship fire, controlled". Hiru News. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  31. ^ "X-PRESS PEARL: Air Force join efforts to douse the fire (Photos)". Hiru News. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  32. ^ "(PICTURES) Sri Lanka Air Force deploys Bell 212 to assist to douse fire aboard 'X-Press Pearl'". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Indian crew member rescued from blazing ship tests positive for COVID-19". Newsfirst.com. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  34. ^ "X-Press Pearl fire: MEPA to seek compensation". No. 28 May 2021. Newsradio.lk. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Sri Lanka battles waves of plastic waste from burning ship". Yahoo.com. AFP. 28 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Burning cargo vessel could result in slight acid rains in Sri Lanka: Authorities". The Hindu. PTI. 29 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 May 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  37. ^ "Si Lanka halts coastal fishing over X-Press Pearl pollution hitting 5,600 boats". EconomyNext. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Do not touch 'toxic' debris from 'X-Press Pearl' - MEPA". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Sri Lanka : Central Environmental Authority issues guidelines for removal of debris from MV X-Press Pearl". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Sri Lanka launches probe after burning ship pollutes beaches". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  41. ^ bugsbunny (31 May 2021). "Criminal investigation underway over fire on X-Press Pearl". Colombo Gazette. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  42. ^ says, Slawomir Palenda (31 May 2021). "Sri Lanka readies to sue owners of the fire-struck X-Press Pearl". Splash247. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  43. ^ "Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka CID to record statements from captain and chief engineer of MV X-Press Pearl today". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  44. ^ "X-Press Pearl salvors mull boarding as Sri Lanka eyes pollution claim". EconomyNext. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
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