X-Press Pearl: Shanghai Salvage Company to remove wreck

COLOMBO (News 1st); X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', signed a contract with the Shanghai Salvage Company (SCC) on Thursday, December 2, 2021, for the removal of the wreck.

SCC has established a project team for the salvage operation and has already mobilized the equipment necessary for the wreck removal.

The wreck removal plan will ensure complete removal and safe, proper disposal of the wreck and any debris and pollutants around the wreck.

The wreck removal team will be supported by response tugs on a 24-hour watch to deal with debris or forms of pollutants. Regular water sampling will be ongoing at the site, with representatives of ITOPF and Oil Spill Response ready to respond immediately, if required.

Meanwhile, Resolve Marine has commenced the recovery of the containers and debris that were lost overboard during the vessel fire and subsequent sinking. The debris has been identified through side-scan sonar operations, undertaken during July and August, and its recovery and safe disposal is expected to be completed in due course.

Sri Lankan authorities have submitted their second compensation claim, which is being reviewed by the vessel owners P&I Club and discussions are ongoing. We continue to work with the Sri Lankan authorities towards the repatriation of the eight remaining crew members who are currently housed at a hotel in Colombo. We are eager to get them home to be reunited with their families.