The insurers of the X-Press Pearl ship will pay another $2.5 million within the next few days as compensation for the environmental damage caused by the fire.
According to the chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) , Dharshani Lahandapura, the money is paid to cover expenses incurred by the Marine Environment Protection Authority and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) during the period from June 3 to August 31 to clean up the coastal belt, polluted after the container ship’s fire.
Despite the fact that the total cost of the cleanup during that period was US $3.9 million, the ship’s insurance agent has approved only $2.5 million, the Chairperson said. She also added that more confirmation documents were needed to obtain the remaining amount.
Earlier, $3.6 million has been received for controlling the fire on the X-Press Pearl and the maritime damage caused by it.
Ms. Lahandapura further stated that the insurance company has responded favorably to the compensation request made by the Fisheries Department to cover the direct and indirect losses caused to the fishermen becauseof the fire.
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl container ship carrying a hazardous chemical cargo caught fire on 20 May 2021 while at anchorage 9.5 nm off Colombo Harbor, after a chemical leak in a container and burned for 13 days before the fire was put out on 2nd June. The ship along with its hazardous cargo sank afterwards.
