Inferno aboard container ship increasing local air pollution

By Ifham Nizam

Air samples had revealed that air pollution level is high due to the  fumes from the fire aboard the MV X-Press Pearl in the seas off the Colombo Harbour, a senior marine scientist said.

Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) General Manager Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara told The Island yesterday that their priority was to save the ship and prevent pollution.

Dr. Kumara said that air and water samples were being collected regularly to monitor pollution levels. The National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) will shortly commence investigations into the biodiversity aspect.

Discussions were underway with the foreign experts, insurance agents and the local agent of the ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’, registered under the Singapore flag, Dr. Kumara said, adding things were under control.

The vessel carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, several other chemicals and cosmetics was in anchorage when a fire erupted in a container stacked on its deck last Friday.

The vessel that left port of Hazira, India, on May 15 was on her way to Singapore via Colombo.

The National Building Research Organisation has also launched an investigation on air pollution as a result of the fumes from the inferno aboard the MV X-Press Pearl in the seas off the Colombo Harbour.

Experts from the Netherlands and Belgium have boarded the vessel to survey the onboard situation at first hand.

“A special Dutch flight with vital equipment to contain the fire is now expected to reach Sri Lanka,” said  Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

A special team comprising officials from the Sri Lanka Navy, Ports Authority, and Marine Environment Protection Authority reached the location of the fire-hit container ship last Friday (May 21) and have been monitoring the situation since then.

Three tugs from the SLPA were employed to reduce the heat in the surrounding containers to prevent the spread of the fire and possible explosions.

Naval ship Sindurala and a fast attack craft were deployed to assist the ongoing firefighting efforts.

The distressed container ship has been manned by a crew of 25, who are Filipino, Chinese, Indian, and Russian nationals.