The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has issued a statement clarifying its position with regard to media reports on the sudden fire that broke out on MV X-Press Pearl off the Port of Colombo.
Releasing details on the nature of the chain of events that took place at the incident, the SLPA said that the MV X-Press Pearl was considered a vessel to call at the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) of the Port of Colombo scheduled to be operated at the CICT.
On 19th May, the crew on board the vessel through radio had informed the SLPA that the vessel would arrive in the waters of the Port of Colombo at mid-night and it 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 harbor waters, as is usually the process during container operations, the SLPA said.
Stating that the SLPA had not been informed of any specific event or occurrence verbally or in writing by the vessel, the Authority said the vessel was scheduled to be called at the Port after 23 hours.
The Harbor Master had thereafter received an email from the ship’s agent requesting permission to unload and reassemble a container that was leaking nitric acid.
Despite the port control room being notified that there was smoke inside the ship by noon, the ship’s administration had later informed the SLPA that the vessel itself had suppressed the situation.
However, two hours later, the vessel was again informed of smoke coming out of the ship and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority had taken prompt action by deploying its Fire Brigade at the distressed vessel within an hour.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority said it regrets the catastrophe that occurred on the vessel before her arrival at the Port of Colombo and the Authority has deployed all possible measures to douse the fire on board the ship immediately after relevant information were duly provided to the port and from the time of request for assistance.
Meanwhile, Splash news has clarified its earlier report which claimed MV X-Press Pearl had been denied entry during its previous port stops at Qatar and India.
Clarifying the news report, Splash News now says although the ships entered the ports they were not allowed to offload boxes with leaking acid at the two ports.
The report said the vessel had undergone discharge and loading operations during its stops at the port of Hamad in Qatar and port of Gujarat in India, before venturing towards the Colombo Port.
The news article also said that applications had been made to both ports to offload a container that was leaking Nitric acid, but the request was denied. (NewsWire)