Oil slick, if spilt from Pearl vessel likely to head towards Negombo lagoon : MEPA

It has been forecast that in the event any oil spillage from MV E-XPRESS PEARL, is likely to waft towards the Negombo lagoon, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said yesterday.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, she said they have not spotted any oil spill from the vessel and added they were well prepared to promptly respond to possible oil spillage.

"The forecast wad made by the International Tanker Owners' Pollution Federation (ITOPF), which provides technical expertise to promote effective response in the marine environment to back up core role of responding to ship sourced spillages," she said.

"Accordingly, we have identified sensitive zones in the vicinity of the Negombo lagoon and have made arrangements to provide protection to them," she added.

The ITOPF has informed us that considering the prevailing weather patterns and other current conditions, an oil spill cannot be contained through a boom, which is only a temporary floating barrier used to contain oil spillage.

“Hence, the available option is to clean the oil once it washed shore as recommended by the ITOPF,” she underlined.

“We have on stand by with equipment like dispersants, absorbent materials with the coordination of other institutions to face any oil spillage,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson also said four parts of containers have so far washed ashore at the Negombo beach.

"We are taking measure to dispose these debris after taking them to Dikkowita Fishery Harbour and the Negombo Harbour," she added. (Sheain Fernandopulle)