Sri Lankan environmental groups are urging for the nation’s president to intervene and secure a rapid cleanup of the wreck of the container feeder XPress Pearl.
This call comes after the release of a video, which shows an oily sheen on the surface, making the activists express concern that the ship could be spilling fuel.
We see only the lethargic responses of the relevant agencies in taking any meaningful action. For the last one and a half months, we have received information that the oil leak has spread to Negombo
highlighted Ravindranath Dabare, the chairman of the Centre for Environmental Justice.
However, the owner of the ship stated that there are no confirmed reports of any bunker oil spills from XPress Pearl. It noted however, that a “light silvery-grey sheen continues to be observed emanating from the vessel.”
The company is currently carrying out a salvage response, which includes a water-sampling program to monitor for contaminants.
Xpress Pearl was also carrying large quantities of chemical cargo, which has the ability to pollute the marine environment. Despite the fact that the raging destroyed a large percentage of its containers and their contents, some of the cargo escaped.
Other cargoes on board included methanol, gear oil, brake fluid, urea, lead, copper and lithium batteries, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Now, UNEP is urging for XPress Feeders and Sri Lankat to reach agreement on a wreck removal plan, in order to proceed with the work as soon as weather conditions allow.
