Hazmat
Hazmat
Posted on Jun 2, 2021
Fears of environmental disaster as oil-laden ship sinks off Sri Lanka
881
25
4
9
9
0
A chemical-laden cargo ship is sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.
The Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl had been on fire for almost two weeks before the blaze was put out this week.
Hundreds of tonnes of oil from fuel tanks could leak into the sea if it sinks, devastating nearby marine life.
The Sri Lankan and Indian navies had worked jointly over the past days in an attempt to put out the fire and prevent the ship from breaking up and sinking.
But rough seas and monsoonal winds hampered the operation, just outside the port of Colombo.
"The ship is sinking. Salvers are trying to tow the ship to deep sea before it sinks to minimise the marine pollution but the rear area of the ship has drifted," Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Captain Indika Silva told the BBC.
The Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl had been on fire for almost two weeks before the blaze was put out this week.
Hundreds of tonnes of oil from fuel tanks could leak into the sea if it sinks, devastating nearby marine life.
The Sri Lankan and Indian navies had worked jointly over the past days in an attempt to put out the fire and prevent the ship from breaking up and sinking.
But rough seas and monsoonal winds hampered the operation, just outside the port of Colombo.
"The ship is sinking. Salvers are trying to tow the ship to deep sea before it sinks to minimise the marine pollution but the rear area of the ship has drifted," Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Captain Indika Silva told the BBC.
Fears of environmental disaster as oil-laden ship sinks off Sri Lanka
Posted from bbc.com
Sri Lanka
Singapore
Shipping
Environment
Hazmat
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 4
8
8
0
3
3
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Environmentalist Dr Ajantha Perera told the BBC that the sinking posed "the worst environmental scenario".
"With all the dangerous goods, the nitric acid and all these other things, and the oil in the ship, if it's sinking it will basically destroy the whole bottom of the sea," she said.
Dr Perera said divers should have been sent down to examine the ship before it was towed out to sea.
"The environmental issues will remain in our waters now," she added.
The coastal stretch near the city of Negombo - home to some of the country's most pristine beaches - has already seen oil and debris pollution for days.
Environmentalist Dr Ajantha Perera told the BBC that the sinking posed "the worst environmental scenario".
"With all the dangerous goods, the nitric acid and all these other things, and the oil in the ship, if it's sinking it will basically destroy the whole bottom of the sea," she said.
Dr Perera said divers should have been sent down to examine the ship before it was towed out to sea.
"The environmental issues will remain in our waters now," she added.
The coastal stretch near the city of Negombo - home to some of the country's most pristine beaches - has already seen oil and debris pollution for days.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
Saw the news report on this situation this morning on the early morning news shipmate PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google