150km of coastline affected by burnt debris from wreck
Large swathe of Sri Lanka’s coastline affected by burnt debris from wrecked boxship.
By Marc Allen
Pollution from the burned wreck of the X-Press Feeders’ containership, X-Press Pearl, has contaminated a 150km stretch of the Sri Lankan coastline, says the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF).
The ITOPF said more than 1,000 people are involved in a clean-up operation, including personnel from the Sri Lankan Navy and Sri Lankan Marine Environmental Protection Authority. Specialist clean-up company, Oil Spill Response has also arrived in Sri Lanka to assist.
“The pollutants of particular concern are nurdles, as they have the potential to spread over vast distances and recovery of these small plastic pellets can be difficult and protracted,” the ITOPF said.
The wreck of the 2,743-teu vessel is 10km off the coast near the Sri Lankan city of Negombo and is aground at a depth of 21 metres. The Sri Lankan navy is carrying out an underwater survey, but so far there have been no reports of any bunker fuel leaks
