MV X-Press Pearl: Sri Lanka does not have enough laws to obtain compensation

COLOMBO (News 1st): An audit has found Sri Lanka does not have enough laws to obtain maximum compensation for maritime disasters. Sri Lanka has signed at least five major agreements to obtain compensation for maritime disasters, however a report from the National Audit Office says that may be difficult. This is due the Prevention of Marine Pollution Act not mentioning the implementation of the agreements. The report says Sri Lanka is yet to obtain compensation for the pollution caused by a disaster last year, when the MT New Diamond fuel tanker caught fire in Sri Lanka. One agreement that has not been implemented properly is the MARPOL agreement. Although the agreement was signed in 1997, there haven’t been enough laws to implement it for a period of 24 years as the audit report states that there is no institution to fully implement the agreement. The MARPOL agreement allows authorities to inspect a ship and identify whether it has released harmful substances. The audit has found that Sri Lanka hasn’t signed two other agreements to obtain compensation for maritime disasters as well. This includes disasters that occur while transporting hazardous items. The MV X-Press Pearl vessel that sunk in Sri Lankan waters this year contained 81 containers of dangerous goods, including 25 tons of Nitric Acid.