Chemical Fire on ‘X-Press Pearl’ Under Control Off Colombo

The Sri Lanka Navy says that it is working to douse the fire that broke out on the cargo ship anchored near the Colombo harbor.

Navy Media Spokesman Capt. Indika de Silva said that the fire broke out in a ship anchored in the seas 9.5 nautical miles northwest of the Colombo harbor yesterday (20) afternoon.

Following a tip off, two deep sea reconnaissance vessels and a fast attack craft were deployed in the area.

A tug boat of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has also been deployed to control the fire, the Navy spokesman said.

The cargo ship Express Pearl, registered under the Singapore flag, was on its way to Colombo from the Indian port of Hazira when it caught fire.

The ship was carrying 25 tons of nitric acid and 1486 containers of other chemicals and cosmetics.

A team of experts from the Navy and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) entered the ship yesterday afternoon and inspected its condition.