Sri Lanka waits on compensation, answers from Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl disaster 18 months after vessel sank
- The ship caught fire and sank off Sri Lanka, with plastic pellets, nitric acid and fuel among the many harmful substances released into the ocean
- Hundreds of creatures died, including whales. Fishermen are still finding plastic in fish, but there’s been little compensation so far
The Singapore-registered vessel, carrying hazardous chemicals and plastic pellets, caught fire off Sri Lanka’s west coast in May last year, apparently because of a nitric acid leak. All 25 crew were evacuated, with two suffering minor injuries.
On November 25, five people, including the captain and the local agent, were handed indictments under the nation’s Marine Pollution Prevention Act, released on bail and banned from travelling overseas.
State Minister of Urban Development and Housing Arundika Fernando told parliament last week that an interim report had been handed to Australian legal advisers and he hoped ultimately the nation would receive US$3-4 billion in compensation, with some experts expecting more. But it is far from clear when it will come.
The ship, which was about 9.5 miles off Sri Lanka’s western coast when it caught fire, eventually sank after burning for days. In the process it spilled 25 metric tonnes of nitric acid, which is highly corrosive, and a large volume of plastic pellets.
Carcasses of dead animals, some with burn marks, began washing ashore and by July last year, the hideous tally stood at 417 turtles, eight whales and 48 dolphins.
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Sea turtles, dolphins and whales found dead on Sri Lankan beach after chemical ship sinks
