Fire on Singapore-flag cargo ship to be probed; flames still visible time to time

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has taken steps to investigate whether the Singapore-flag cargo ship that caught fire in the sea near the Colombo harbor has caused any damage to the marine environment as the vessel contained shipment of nitric acid in it, MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said.

She told Daily Mirror that the teams had been deployed to reduce the heat in surrounding area of containers as flames being still visible time to time on top of the containers above weather deck.

Meanwhile, the Navy said that a special team comprising officials from Sri Lanka Navy, Ports Authority and Marine Environment Protection Authority reached the location of the fire-hit container ship yesterday and monitored the situation further.

They said thay the Navy and Sri Lanka Ports Authority are working in full swing to contain the fire onboard the MV ‘X-PRESS PEARL’.

Further, Sri Lanka Naval Ship Sindurala and a Fast Attack Craft have been still deployed in the scene of action to assist the ongoing firefighting efforts.

Meanwhile, the Navy also has made a Navy Tug ready for immediate deployment in the event of any emergency. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)