• Statements from about 20 people regarding the incident recorded so far
• Initial inspection carried out by divers to assess the condition of the hull

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has received the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) of the ship which contains all the communication dialogues between the captain, the parent company and the local shipping agent, police said. 

Marine experts from the Merchant Shipping Secretariat with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy, have recovered the VDR commonly known as the “Ship’s Black Box”.
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said these communications are essential to conduct further investigations especially to entrust the responsibility in respect of environmental pollution.
He said the CID will analyse the data and all the communications from the VDR.
The Port’s Authority and the operator said there were no signs of oil or chemical spills. They said that Sri Lanka’s Navy, Indian coastguard, salvage crews and local authorities were capable of responding to any signs of oil pollution or debris, and were monitoring the situation around the clock.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said that the CID has so far recorded statements from about 20 people regarding the incident of the MV Express Pearl which caught fire near the Colombo harbour.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship ‘X-Press Pearl’ said the ships aft portion remains on the seabed at a depth of about 21 metres, and the forward section continues to settle down slowly. An initial inspection has been carried out by divers to assess the condition of the hull. Salvors 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.