Plastics from burning ship cover Sri Lanka beach
May 28, 2021: Huge loads of scorched plastic pellets from a burning container transport ship washed ashore close to Sri Lanka’s capital Friday as a global effort to rescue the vessel hauled into a 9th day.
Thick dark smoke rose from the Singapore-enlisted MV X-Press Pearl, moored right outside Colombo harbor, heightening fears that it could separate spilling its 278 tons of bunker oil.
Navy personnel in hazmat suits were sent to clean off large number of plastic granules blended in with consumed oil and other buildup that covered Negombo sea shore, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the capital.
The plastic-shrouded sea shore, typically a draw for vacationers and known as a fishing community, was proclaimed beyond reach. The smoking container ship could be seen not too far off. Tractors gathered up huge loads of the polythene pellets that came from at least eight containers that tumbled off the boat on Tuesday. Authorities said the vessel was known to carry 28 compartments of the pellets that are utilized as a crude material in the packaging industry.
The fire broke out on May 20 as the ship awaited entry into the Colombo port. It is also carrying 25 tons of nitric acid, an undefined amount of ethanol and lubricants in its 1,500 containers.
Experts agree the fire was brought about by a nitric acid leak which the crew had known about since May 11, Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said. MEPA administrator Dharshani Lahandapura said the group might have kept away from the fiasco had they offloaded the spilling holders or returned them to the port of beginning prior to entering Sri Lankan waters.
Lahandapura said the MEPA is preparing for an oil slick if the X-Press Pearl breaks up as monsoon winds have fanned the flares across the length of the boat. She said the vessel was conveying 278 tons of bunker oil and 50 tons of marine gasoil when the fire erupted.
Oil buildup and charred containers have effectively washed aground at Negombo. Sri Lanka Naval chief Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne said Thursday it would require days to quench the fire, even with the weathher improving. Four Indian vessels have joined Sri Lanka’s naval force in the fight to contain the fire. Rescue tasks are driven by the Dutch organization SMIT which has sent specialist fire fighting tugs. The 25 member crew evacuated on Tuesday and two of them endured minor wounds all the while, the proprietors of the vessel said on Thursday.
SMIT, renowned salvage troubleshooter, was also involved in dousing the flames on oil tanker which caught fire off Sri Lanka’s east coast last September after an engine room explosion that killed a crewman.
The fire on the New Diamond tanker took more than a week to put out and left a 40 kilometre long oil spill. Sri Lanka has demanded the owners pay a $17 million clean-up bill.
Stay tuned to BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!
