Interim Compensation Approved for X-Press Pearl Disaster

COLOMBO (News 1st); An interim payment of over 1.3 million US dollars has been approved in relation to the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster.

The ship’s insurers have granted their approval for this compensation, said Sri Lanka's Attorney General's Department.

At the same time Sri Lanka has taken legal action by filing a case in a Singapore court. Sri Lanka seeking compensation for the damage caused to the countries marine ecosystem due to the sinking of the ship.

On May 20, 2021, the Singapore -flagged Containership, 'X-Press Pearl' reported smoke from the cargo hold while at Colombo anchorage, Sri Lanka.

Despite salvors subsequently boarding the vessel on June 2 and attaching a tow wire, efforts to move the ship to deeper waters failed, and the ships aft portion sank to the bottom.