The captain of X-Press Pearl that was arrested on June 14, appeared before the court, where he was granted bail.
The captain appeared before the Colombo High Court for breaching the country’s Marine Pollutions Prevention Act. This Act prohibits unauthorized discharge of pollutants.
The captain was not formally charged but will be back in court on July 1, with his bail set at $10,000.
The fire-ravaged ship, MV X-Press Pearl, began sinking on June 2, heightening fears of an oil and chemical spill, as the vessel was laden with chemicals such as nitric acid and was carrying 350 metric tons of oil in its tanks.
After the fire broke out, and four for 12 days, the Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Coast Guard tried to douse the flames and stop the ship from breaking apart or sinking.
In June 12, the ship’s operator, X-Press Feeders, released a statement informing that the rear of the vessel remains on the seabed 21 meters (69 feet) below the surface and the stern of the ship is “afloat and is reported as stable.”
It also added that while the “scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution” a “gray sheen” continued to be observed “emanating from the vessel.”
Sri Lankan authorities have now launched criminal and civil probes into how the fire started.
What is more, it has been reported that Sri Lanka is seeking an interim claim of $40m from the ship operator, in order to cover part of the cost of fighting the fire.
In addition, IMO also announced it is closely monitoring the situation as it evolves, including reports of chemical pollution, debris coming ashore in the form of plastic pellets and the potential for oil pollution.
