Ship with dangerous cargo told to leave: HIPG

• Vessel made emergency call at H’tota port for urgent repairs  
• HIPG says agents had not declared dangerous cargo on board prior to vessel entering port 
• Cargo identified as Uranium Hexafluoride
• Navy and Customs present at all times to ensure no cargo unloaded    

Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) yesterday clarified that the ship that made an emergency call at the port had not declared there was dangerous cargo on board, and had been required to leave as soon as facts were verified.   

M.V. BBC Naples sailing under the flag of “Antigua & Barbados” entered the port of Hambantota on 20 April at 2100 hrs, while en route from Rotterdam to China. The ship made an emergency call at the port for some urgent repairs. Agents for the vessel in Sri Lanka, Barwil Meridian Navigation, had not declared to the port authorities that there was dangerous cargo on board prior to the vessel entering the port, HIGP said in a statement. 

“It was later found that they were carrying a cargo of Uranium Hexafluoride via investigations made by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Ports Authority. The vessel was required to leave the port no sooner the facts were verified.”

The SLPA, Navy, and Customs officials had approved all the necessary documentation prior to berthing of the vessel, based on the declaration made by the agent. The Navy and Customs were present at all times to ensure that there wasn’t any cargo unloaded onto the Hambantota International Port premises, it added.  Concerns over the ship were raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament following information being shared by media organisations online.