X-Press Pearl wreck can only be removed after monsoon; says operator

COLOMBO (News 1st) X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the wreck is now wholly sitting on the seabed at a depth of 21 meters. Caretakers salvors are onsite on a 24-hour watch to deal with any possible debris and report any form of a spill.

A grey sheen continues to be observed emanating from the vessel, and discolouration of the sea in and around the wreck remains. This has been apparent since the vessel's stern became submerged, and the remnants of the cargo in the 1486 containers that were onboard were exposed to seawater.

Representatives of ITOPF and Oil Spill Response are monitoring updates from the scene and are ready to deploy in case of any reported spill.

Due to the exposed nature of the anchorage to the prevailing South Westerly Monsoon, it is likely that the wreck removal can only start after the SW monsoon subsides; caretaker services will remain on site until then. They will continue to minimise pollution and monitor the wreck's condition and report daily to experts ashore and Government agencies.

Additionally, the caretakers will install navigational warning lights and markers on the wreck for the safety of other vessels. When conditions allow, side-scan sonar will be used to locate any sunken containers or debris in the anchorage for removal.