SLPA sets record straight on MV X-Press Pearl

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) via a statement yesterday set the record straight on the MV X-Press Pearl, which caught fire in Sri Lankan waters en route to be berthed at the Colombo Port. 

SLPA said the MV X-Press Pearl was scheduled to call at the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) of the Port of Colombo.

The crew on board the vessel through radio on 19 May had informed the SLPA control that the vessel would arrive in the waters of the Port of Colombo at midnight and that she would call at the port control area during early dawn. As the berth was not ready at that time, the vessel was permitted to remain anchored in the harbour waters, as is usually the process during container operations.

At that time SLPA had not been informed of any specific event or occurrence verbally or in writing by the vessel. The vessel was scheduled to call at the port after 23 hours. 

The Harbour Master had then received an email from the ship’s agent requesting permission to unload and reassemble a TEU containing leaking nitric acid.

At noon that day, the port control room had been notified that there was smoke inside the ship. A few minutes later, the ship’s administration had informed the port control of the SLPA that the vessel itself had suppressed the situation. 

However, two hours later, the vessel had again informed of smoke out of the ship and SLPA, taking prompt action at this point, deployed the services of its Fire Brigade at the distressed vessel within a short period of an hour. 

The vessel is reported to have called at the port of Hamad in Qatar and another in India but no operations of TEUs with hazardous chemicals were reported.

The SLPA said it regretted the catastrophe that occurred on the vessel before her arrival at the Port of Colombo as her next port of call. The SLPA also said it had deployed all possible measures to douse the fire on board the ship immediately after relevant information was duly provided to the port and from the time of request for assistance.

“Therefore, the SLPA strongly rejects all adverse news and reports published on the institution and the Port of Colombo with regard to this in several newspapers, social media and web outlets and hence notifies as above, the accurate chain of events that took place during the incident. The Port of Colombo, which has achieved a renowned reputation in the maritime sector, is therefore dedicated and never abdicates its responsibility in the event of such a catastrophe and would continue to perform its duties all the time to the best of its potential,” it added.