Sri Lankan authorities are mulling to take legal against the owner of the ship MV-X Press Pearl that caught fire this week in Sri Lankan waters, reported Colombopage. The fire has considerably reduced with the help of the Sri Lankan Navy and Indian Coast Guards and no oil spill was detected.

We have information that the ship had entered Sri Lankan waters deliberately concealing that there was a chemical leak, Turney Pradeep Kumara, the general manager of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), said.

Calling the matter significant, he said legal action will be taken after discussions with the relevant section in this regard in the future. Samples taken from the cargo and nearby floating objects have been sent for testing, he added. 

The executive director of the company that owns the ship has said that the fire started as the containers containing fuel were not stored properly. 

At the time of the accident, the ship’s captain had requested permission to enter the ports of Hazira, India, and Hamad, Qatar but was denied entry. It is said that the ship had sailed to the port of Colombo, concealing the true condition of the ship.

(SAM)