Latest news with #Singapore-flagged
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Report uncovers lasting toxic legacy of cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka
NEGOMBO, Sri Lanka — Four years after a stricken cargo ship caused the largest plastic spill ever recorded, volunteers on Sri Lanka's beaches are still sifting kilograms of tiny, toxic plastic pellets from the sand. Billions of plastic nurdles, as they are called, are thought to have washed up after the X-Press Pearl disaster in 2021, along with tonnes of engine fuel, acid, caustic soda, lead, copper slag, lithium batteries and epoxy resin - all toxic to aquatic life. The immediate damage was obvious: the nurdles inundated the shoreline, turning it white, while dead turtles, dolphins and fish began washing up. But scientists are now flagging fears the damage to the environment could be much more enduring than previously thought. So far, hundreds of millions of nurdles may have been cleared away - but the remaining, lentil-sized microplastic granules have become increasingly difficult to find as they disappear deeper into the sand. Worse, those pieces of plastic now appear to be becoming even more toxic, new research suggests."They seem to be accumulating pollution from the ocean," said David Megson, of Manchester Metropolitan University. "Like a lovely big chemical sponge."Nurdles are the raw materials that are melted to make plastic products and it is not unusual for large amounts to be transported in the global plastic supply problems onboard the X-Press Pearl started soon after setting sail from Dubai Port bound for Port Klang in Malaysia, when the crew noticed that a container carrying nitric acid was leaking, corroding the metal box. But they were denied permission to unload the smoking, leaking container at ports in Qatar and container had been leaking acid at a rate of about a litre an hour for at least eight days when it sailed into Sri Lankan waters late at night on 19 May had requested emergency berthing - but by the morning the Singapore-flagged vessel was firefighting efforts from the crew, the Sri Lankan authorities and salvors, the fire spread throughout the weeks later, it sank, spilling its cargo and fuel into the sea around nine nautical miles off the country's south-west coast, between the capital Colombo and Negombo to the happened next "was just like out of a war movie", says Muditha Katuwawala, an environmentalist and founder of the Pearl Protectors, a local NGO that volunteered to help the clean-up operation, which was run largely by Sri Lankan state authorities with funding from the ship's owners."We started seeing turtles getting washed up with similar sorts of traits... the skin had burn marks [and] was peeling off. The nose and eyes were red and puffed up, and we saw dolphins washing up and... their skin was peeling off and red," Katuwawala nurdles on the beaches were "like snow," he says, adding that "it was horrifying".The clean-up began in earnest. At the start, Katuwawala and his fellow volunteers "were collecting like 300-400 kilos of nurdles" each time, it dropped to three to four kilograms in a couple of hours."The nurdles were getting more dispersed, it was harder to see them as they got buried in the sand over time."It was decided the cost-benefit ratio was no longer worth the effort of mobilising volunteers. The groups stood down, leaving the task to state-organised local clean-up the same time, scientists were getting concerned about the possibility the plastic pellets - already harmful to animals which eat them accidentally - may be getting more toxic, contaminated from the spill, or from other pollution the ensuing years, they have collected samples which could help trace the effect over November 2024, the BBC and Watershed Investigations sent more than 20 of those samples to a team of forensic chemists specialising in environmental pollution from Manchester Metropolitan found the most heavily contaminated nurdles were those burnt in the fire, which leach metals toxic to aquatic life, like arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, cobalt and team also found the pellets "still going round appear to be sucking up more pollution from the environment" and were becoming "more toxic", according to Megson."They will be ingested [and] will pass pollution on to marine organisms," he carried out on fish caught near the site of the disaster - as well as the nearby Negombo lagoon - found some contained the same pollutants that were present in the ship's cargo and on the of the fish contained levels of hazardous metals - some of which were found in the disaster - which exceeded safe say the disaster cannot be discounted as the source of contamination, although it also can't be directly proven to be the source, as it's not known if these fish ate nurdles, how many they ingested, or if the pollution came from other sources."But placed on top of everything else that is in that system, there's a really good likelihood that it's causing harm to the environment and also potentially harm to people and humans that are eating and relying on that marine ecosystem for a source of their food," Megson fishermen do draw the link to the disaster."There's no fish since then. We've never had the same amount of fish that we used to catch," fisherman Jude Sulanta explains."Our lives have turned upside down. From the stretch where the ship sank up until here you don't get many new, young fish at all."The ship's owner, X-Press Feeders Ltd, says to date it has worked diligently to ensure the best response to the disaster and spent more than $130m (£96m) to remove the wreck and debris at says it has also paid more than $20m to the Sri Lankan government for clean-up operations on the coast and to compensate says, however, that the Sri Lankan government has assumed responsibility for all shoreside clean-up activities and it is disappointed by the delays in that process and the ongoing impacts this is Sri Lankan government says the amount paid by the ship's owner - which was capped by an interim UK maritime court order - is not enough to cover the long-term damage, and it is pursuing legal action to overturn the cap and secure further Thursday, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ordered the company to pay $1bn as an initial payment to cover long-term economic and environmental damage it says the country suffered as a result of the disaster - but the cap remains in place. The Supreme Court doesn't have jurisdiction over Singapore, where X-Press Feeders Ltd has its headquarters.X-Press Feeders said it was extremely disappointed with the judgment and that they are reviewing it with their legal advisers, insurers and other relevant stakeholders to best assess their next course of Prashanthi Guneeardena - an environmental economist at University of Sri Jayawardenapura who chaired an expert committee of scientists to assess the damage - puts the cost of the disaster at closer to more than $6bn, taking into account things like the loss of wildlife, as well as impact on tourism, fishing and harm to local residents from the toxic cloud released when the ship burned."Large quantities of dioxin and furan have been added to the atmosphere and these are carcinogens. And then we have calculated it may kill about 70 people in our country," says Prof ship owner rejects this quotes the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), an organisation which is funded by the shipping industry to assess marine spills. It says the report was "unparticularised, inaccurate, and lacked credible scientific basis".The ship owner has also said itself and its crew have "followed the internationally accepted procedures in dealing with the acid leak, while maintaining all safety and emergency protocols".Colombo Port Authority has also denied any responsibility, saying it did not know of the issues until the ship arrived in its sea is the lifeblood of this island nation. Its stunning golden coasts are a huge draw for tourists, and for generations fishing has fed the Sulanta, the fisherman, is worried that his way of life no longer has a future."Many are selling their boats and trying to go abroad. And many people are fed up. In fact, my son himself, he's working with me at the moment. He's also a fisherman."But he's also considering leaving the country. It's already been several years. If we were going to get justice we would have had it by now," he says. — BBC
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sri Lankan Supreme Court orders $1 bn compensation over X-Press Pearl disaster
In a landmark judgment that could redefine environmental accountability in South Asia, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered non-state actors — including the owners, operators, and local agents of the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl — to pay $1 billion as interim compensation to the Sri Lankan treasury. The ruling relates to the catastrophic maritime disaster in May 2021, when the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel caught fire and later sank off the Western coast of Sri Lanka, unleashing what experts have described as the worst marine pollution event in the island's history. The verdict followed the hearing of four Fundamental Rights petitions filed by fishermen, Catholic clergy, and environmental groups. Among the petitioners was Sri Lanka's most senior Catholic prelate, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. Nearly 20 respondents were named, including former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (represented by the Attorney General), several ministers, senior public officials, and heads of agencies responsible for marine environmental protection. The vessel's owners, operators, and local agents were collectively referred to by the Court as the 'X-Press Pearl Group.' Upholding the 'polluter pays' principle, the Court found that both the X-Press Pearl Group and state actors had violated the fundamental rights of the petitioners — and, by extension, the people of Sri Lanka. In a rare move, the Court also ruled that Sri Lanka's Attorney General's Department (AGD) had violated citizens' rights by failing to pursue appropriate legal action against the responsible parties. A slow-burning disaster The MV X-Press Pearl was a Singapore-registered container ship operated by X-Press Feeders. On May 20, 2021, while anchored off Colombo, it caught fire while carrying a highly hazardous cargo — including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, methanol, caustic soda, lubricants, and an estimated 400 containers of plastic nurdles (small, pre-production plastic pellets used in manufacturing). The ship burned for nearly two weeks before sinking, triggering a major marine pollution crisis. An estimated 1,600 tonnes of plastic nurdles tonnes of plastic nurdles were spilled into the ocean and along Sri Lanka's western coastline, causing extensive and lasting environmental damage. These lentil-sized pellets, which absorb and concentrate toxic chemicals, are often mistaken for food by marine species. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) later described the incident as potentially the worst marine plastic pollution event from a single vessel in history. A recent BBC investigation found that the nurdles continue to absorb pollutants like heavy metals from the sea and are getting more toxic over time, compounding the long-term threat to marine ecosystems. In the weeks that followed, tonnes of dead marine animals — including dolphins, turtles, and fish — washed ashore. Coastal fishing communities, especially in the Western Province, were devastated by fishing bans, leading to severe economic and cultural impacts. Attorney General's department under fire The Court was sharply critical of the Attorney General's Department, particularly for its decision to file a civil compensation claim in Singapore rather than pursuing legal proceedings in Sri Lanka. The Court described this move as 'unreasonable, irrational, and arbitrary.' It was revealed during the hearings that the AGD had entered into an agreement with the shipowners granting 'exclusive jurisdiction' to Singaporean courts — effectively sidelining Sri Lanka's own legal system. The Court concluded that the AGD had infringed upon the rights of Sri Lankan citizens by failing to indict the ship's owners and operators, thereby undermining national sovereignty and accountability. The Court also held former State Minister of Urban Development Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), and its former chairperson Darshani Lahandapura responsible for violating the fundamental rights of citizens due to their failure in prevention, oversight, and timely response. Corruption allegations and police investigations In 2023, several parliamentarians alleged that the shipowners had paid a USD 250 million bribe to certain AGD officials to derail the compensation process. The police launched an investigation based on a complaint filed by a senior MEPA official — but the inquiry has since been stalled. In its ruling, the Court has directed the police to resume investigations into all criminal aspects of the case, including the bribery allegations, and to submit a progress report within three months. Additionally, the Court announced the formation of the MV X-Press Pearl Compensation Commission, which will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and economic damages. The USD 1 billion ordered is considered an interim payment and may be revised upward based on the commission's findings. Beyond the petitioners' demands Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, who represented several petitioners, told The Hindu that the judgment had exceeded expectations. 'The Supreme Court went well beyond what the petitioners asked for. It recognised not only the environmental loss but also the systemic failure of the state in its duty to protect the people's fundamental rights,' he said. The ruling has been welcomed by environmentalists, legal experts, and affected coastal communities as a rare and powerful assertion of environmental justice in South Asia — where foreign corporate polluters often avoid liability. Legal scholars suggest that the ruling may set a regional precedent for addressing transboundary environmental harm and enhancing corporate accountability, particularly in the context of hazardous maritime cargo. Can the ruling be enforced? One of the AGD's primary justifications for filing the civil case in Singapore was uncertainty over whether a Sri Lankan court judgment could be enforced internationally. However, Dr. Dabare argues that the Court has addressed this concern by defining the 'X-Press Pearl Group' to include the vessel's local agents — thereby ensuring domestic enforceability. 'If they fail to comply, local agents will face the full force of Sri Lankan law,' he said. Meanwhile, the Singapore civil suit remains on hold, pending an appeal in the UK Admiralty Court. The UK court is reviewing an earlier decision to limit the shipowners' liability to £19.8 million — a fraction of the damage Sri Lanka claims to have suffered. With the Supreme Court's ruling now far exceeding that liability cap, Dr. Dabare contends that it is no longer viable for Sri Lanka to pursue both legal avenues. 'This ruling marks a definitive legal stance,' he said. The shipowners have yet to publicly respond to the judgment. -Saroj Pathirana is a Fellow at the Pulitzer Ocean Reporting network.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Singapore ship's owners ordered to pay Sri Lanka US$1 billion over plastic spill
Sri Lanka 's top court on Thursday ordered the owners of a Singapore-flagged container ship that sank near its capital to pay US$1 billion in compensation to the island nation's government for causing the most severe marine environmental catastrophe in the country's history. Advertisement The container ship MV X-Press Pearl , which was carrying chemicals, sank off Colombo in June 2021 after catching fire. The Supreme Court said the incident caused 'unprecedented devastation to the marine environment of Sri Lanka' and harmed the country's economy, especially the lives of the fishing communities. Judges said the disaster led to the death of 417 turtles, 48 dolphins, eight whales and numerous fish species that washed ashore after the incident. Debris from the ship, including several tonnes of plastic pellets used to make plastic bags, caused severe pollution on beaches. 'This marine environmental disaster constitutes the largest recorded marine plastic spill in the world,' the judgment said. 'It resulted in the widespread release of toxic and hazardous substances into the marine environment, poisoning ocean waters, killing marine species, and destructing phytoplankton.' Due to the severe marine pollution, the government imposed a fishing ban for well over a year, depriving fishermen of their income and livelihood. Advertisement The incident 'continues to cause destruction and harm to Sri Lanka's marine environment,' said the judgement signed by five Supreme Court judges.
6 days ago
Sri Lankan court orders owners of container ship to pay $1 billion in marine pollution compensation
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka's top court on Thursday ordered the owners of a Singapore-flagged container ship that sank near its capital to pay $1 billion in compensation to the island nation's government for causing the most severe marine environment catastrophe in the country's history. The container ship MV X-Press Peal, which was carrying chemicals, sank off Colombo in June, 2021 after catching fire. The Supreme Court said the incident caused 'unprecedented devastation to the marine environment of Sri Lanka' and harmed the country's economy, especially the lives of the fishing communities. Judges said the disaster led to the death of 417 turtles, 48 dolphins, eight whales and a large number of fish species that washed ashore after the incident. Debris from the ship, including several tons of plastic pellets used to make plastic bags, caused severe pollution on beaches. 'This marine environmental disaster constitutes the largest recorded marine plastic spill in the world,' the judgement said. 'It resulted in the widespread release of toxic and hazardous substances into the marine environment, poisoning ocean waters, killing marine species, and destructing phytoplankton." Due to the severe marine pollution, the government imposed a fishing ban for well over a year, depriving fishermen of their income and livelihood. The incident "continues to cause destruction and harm to Sri Lanka's marine environment,' said the judgement, signed by five supreme court judges. The judgement was given against the X-Press Pearl group that included ship's registered owner, EOS Ro Pte. Limited, and other charterers. All are based in Singapore. An agent in Sri Lanka, Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., was also named. The court said it has sufficient reasons to hold that X-Press Pearl group 'should be held accountable and liable under the Polluter Pays Principle for the pollution caused by the MV X-Press Pearl vessel.' It said the owner, operators and local agent of the ship were all liable for the payment of compensation, which should be used to restore and protect the affected marine and coastal environment. There was no immediate comment on the judgement from the owner or agent of the vessel.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sri Lankan court orders owners of container ship to pay $1 billion in marine pollution compensation
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's top court on Thursday ordered the owners of a Singapore-flagged container ship that sank near its capital to pay $1 billion in compensation to the island nation's government for causing the most severe marine environment catastrophe in the country's history. The container ship MV X-Press Peal, which was carrying chemicals, sank off Colombo in June, 2021 after catching fire. The Supreme Court said the incident caused 'unprecedented devastation to the marine environment of Sri Lanka' and harmed the country's economy, especially the lives of the fishing communities. Judges said the disaster led to the death of 417 turtles, 48 dolphins, eight whales and a large number of fish species that washed ashore after the incident. Debris from the ship, including several tons of plastic pellets used to make plastic bags, caused severe pollution on beaches. 'This marine environmental disaster constitutes the largest recorded marine plastic spill in the world,' the judgement said. 'It resulted in the widespread release of toxic and hazardous substances into the marine environment, poisoning ocean waters, killing marine species, and destructing phytoplankton.' Due to the severe marine pollution, the government imposed a fishing ban for well over a year, depriving fishermen of their income and livelihood. The incident 'continues to cause destruction and harm to Sri Lanka's marine environment,' said the judgement, signed by five supreme court judges. The judgement was given against the X-Press Pearl group that included ship's registered owner, EOS Ro Pte. Limited, and other charterers. All are based in Singapore. An agent in Sri Lanka, Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., was also named. The court said it has sufficient reasons to hold that X-Press Pearl group 'should be held accountable and liable under the Polluter Pays Principle for the pollution caused by the MV X-Press Pearl vessel.' It said the owner, operators and local agent of the ship were all liable for the payment of compensation, which should be used to restore and protect the affected marine and coastal environment. There was no immediate comment on the judgement from the owner or agent of the vessel. The court ruling came after several parties, including environment campaigners and fisher rights groups, filed litigation seeking compensation.
