X-Press Feeders, operators of the burnt 2,743TEU container ship X-Press Pearl, through the vessel owner’s P&I insurers, have made an initial payment of US$3.6 million to the Sri Lankan government to help compensate those affected by the consequences of the fire and sinking of the vessel.
Discussions are ongoing on the payment of further claims and all legitimate claims will be considered, according to the latest update.
“We continue to contribute to the cleanup and pollution mitigation efforts, having flown in additional oil spill response assets on a chartered flight from Malaysia in response to a request from the United Nations – European Union team in Colombo,” said X-Press Feeders.
At the wreck site, caretaker salvors remain on a 24-hour watch to deal with any debris and report any form of a spill with drones deployed daily to help with the monitoring activities, added the Singaporean carrier, while representatives of International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) and Oil Spill Response continue to monitor updates from the scene and are stand-by to respond.
X-Press Feeders also noted that it is working with Sri Lanka authorities through its local lawyers with regard to the crew members of X-Press Pearl repatriation, as they have been in lockdown for over six weeks, remaining housed at a hotel in Colombo.
