The Captain of the MV X-Press Pearl container ship which caught fire off the coast of Colombo has been released on a personal bond of Rs. 02 million.
The suspect, who was arrested by officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) earlier today, was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The Court had also imposed a travel ban on the suspect, who was earlier prevented by the court alongside the Chief and Deputy engineers of the vessel, from leaving Sri Lanka.
The CID has recorded statements from the three men over the disaster that followed due to the fire that broke out on the vessel.
An explosion had occurred on the vessel which was transporting hazardous chemicals. A number of cargo-carrying various items, including chemicals had toppled into the seas.
The packages and debris from the vessel, along with plastic pellets had washed ashore along the coastal belt from Negombo to Panadura. Sri Lankan authorities have taken necessary measures in minimising the environmental impact due to the disaster. The ship has now been anchored off the coast of Colombo after it had hit the sea bed while being towed into deep seas. An oil slick has also been captured via satellite images, with authorities conducting a probe to ascertain if it had appeared from the vessel.
The latest situation on the sinking ship as of 12th June
X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship ‘X-Press Pearl’, confirm that the situation on the scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.
The ship’s aft portion remains on the seabed at a depth of about 21 meters, and the forward section remains afloat and is reported as stable. Observations from the Salvors who remain on scene with the Sri Lankan Navy and Indian Coastguard are there has been no noticeable fuel oil spill.
A grey sheen continues to be observed emanating from the vessel. Discolouration of the sea has been apparent since the vessel’s stern became submerged, and the remnants of the cargo in the 1486 containers that were on board were exposed to water.
Representatives of ITOPF and Oil Spill Response are monitoring updates from the scene and remain on standby to be deployed in case of any reported spill.
The salvors will remain on scene to deal with any possible debris supported by the Sri Lankan Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, who have oil spill response capabilities on standby. (NewsWire)