Fire spreads onboard MV X-Press Pearl; India dispatches Coast Guard to assist

Injured crew members of the fire-stricken MV X-Press Pearl being brought ashore at the Colombo Port following an explosion on the vessel. All 25-crew members and a group of salvage specialists were evacuated from the vessel as the fire spread to the superstructure last afternoon - Pix by SLN

By Asiri Fernando

Strong winds and rough seas hampered the combined effort by responders to contain the blaze aboard the Singaporean flagged container vessel MV X-Press Pearl in the anchorage off Colombo yesterday, as the Indian Government dispatched Coast Guard ships and aircraft to assist following a request by the Sri Lanka Navy.

According to the Navy Spokesman Capt Indika De Silva, the fire that broke out in the forecastle area (front of the vessel) of the container ship is spreading to the quarterdeck where the bridge is stationed. As of last evening, the vessel had tilted slightly to the right due to adverse weather resulting in some of the containers onboard being dislodged and falling overboard, the Navy said. The SLPA and Navy suspect that leakage of nitric acid may have caused the fire.

The 25-member crew of the MV X-Press Pearl and salvage specialists who were onboard the fire-stricken vessel were evacuated to land following a report of an explosion. Two injured crew members evacuated ashore have been hospitalised for treatment, the Navy said.

The Navy has cautioned the fishing community engaging in fishing in the area to avoid this particular sea area and not to handle any debris or containers that may be found floating or washes ashore due to the hazardous nature of the cargo.

Three tugs from Salvors called in by the vessel’s owners, tugs from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the vessels of Navy aided by helicopters of the Sri Lanka Air Force had been battling to contain a fire aboard the vessel for the fifth day with varying success.

A team of fire-fighting and salvage specialists from SMIT Salvage, headquartered in Rotterdam, who were called in by the ships owners boarded the vessel on Monday to assess the situation. Personnel Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) also visited the site on Sunday to obtain samples from the site to establish if there has been any impact on the environment. Test results are expected by the end of the week.

MEPA has obtained samples from the area to ascertain the impact on the environment and is also checking the air quality, MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura told Daily FT.

According to Lahandapura, MEPA has issued instructions to the relevant authorities and the Salvors called in by the ship’s owners to tow the vessel to a safe distance away from the coast of Colombo.

However, weather and the raging fire aboard the vessel is hampering this move, Lahandapura pointed out adding that MEPA and other stakeholder agencies were closely monitoring the situation.

According to the Indian High Commission, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has dispatched the vessels; Vaibhav, Vajra and Samudra Prehari and a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft to Sri Lanka. The Tug ‘Water Lilly’ by Director General of Shipping India has also been dispatched.

The Dornier aircraft and one of the ICG vessels were expected to arrive on site last evening. One of the responding vessels from India, ICG Samudra Prehari (CG-201) is a purpose-built Pollution Control Vessel. Last year, ICG Samudra Prehari escorted the troubled supertanker MT New Diamond as it was towed to the port of Fujairah from Sri Lankan waters.

The MV X-Press Pearl, a 185 m long vessel, was en route from Hazira Port in India on 15 May to Colombo with 1,486 containers, including 25 tons of nitric acid and several other chemicals on board, when it issued a distress call while in anchorage, 9.5 nautical miles northwest of Colombo Harbour.