On the 2nd of June, a cargo vessel transporting tonnes of chemicals along with other hazardous substances began sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka. The vessel, a Singapore registered MV X-Press Pearl loaded with 1,486 containers consisting of 25 tonnes of nitric acid, tonnes of plastic pellets and other hazardous chemicals left the port of Hazira, India on the 15th of May. Following its departure from India, on the 20th of May, while anchored a few miles northwest of Colombo waiting to enter into the port a fire was reported to had erupted on the vessel. The ship was on fire for almost two weeks before the Indian and Sri Lankan authorities were able to gain some control over it. Whilst battling the fire, the containers loaded with chemicals and plastic pellets began falling from the ship’s deck and into the ocean. The tonnes of plastic pellets and hazardous chemicals entering into the ocean has therefore caused the island’s coastline and fishing grounds to be heavily polluted and has instituted one of the biggest environmental crises Sri Lanka has ever seen.
After the fire was managed, a team of salvage experts tried to tow the wreck into deeper waters in an effort to reduce the pollution risks to the coastline. However, to no avail, the operation was halted as the back section of the ship hit the seabed. Following the fire, water began submerging the vessel and the rear part of the ship had already sunken. The ship has since been abandoned and left in the waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. The abandoned sinking ship poses imminent danger for the surrounding waters as ship fuel is at risk for entering into the waters causing oil spills which also comes with its list of environmental implications.
What caused the fire?
Details at this time are still sparse, however, officials are stating that a nitric acid leak may have been the cause for first fire which occurred. In addition to this, reports have also stated that crew on the vessel have been aware of the leak since the 11th of May.
Thus, an investigation has been launched and the ship’s captain, chief engineer and chief officer are all being questioned.
What happens if the ship sinks?
The vessel was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid, plastic products, other chemicals, and oil. Thus, if this ship sinks, fuel tanks with hundreds of tonnes of oil can potentially leak into the ocean causing oil spills and possibly resulting in major disruption to marine life.
Environmentalists have warned that if the vessel sinks, the entire bottom of the seabed in that area may be destroyed.
The Aftermath
Currently, there has not been any reports of any large oil spills however beaches on the western coast of Sri Lanka have been seeing effects from the sinking ship. A popular tourist beach in Negombo has witnessed films of oil in the water and large volumes of plastic debris floating on the coastline of the beach. This has resulted in the banning of fishing and recreational activities at the beach. Members of a local fishing union have already expressed their concerns with the issue and are worried about implications to the industry if the ship sinks.
Other severe implications from the fire-ravaged ship have however starting to occur in the waters of Colombo and affecting the marine life. Dozens of dolphins and turtles washed up on the shores of Galle Face beach in Colombo. Their causes of death were as a result of intense heat and chemical heat following the fire on the MV-X Press Pearl. Other beaches, such as one in Induruwa, dead turtles have been washing up on shore. Wildlife experts in Sri Lanka have already commented and has linked the sinking ship as the cause for the turtles deaths. This incident also occurred within the midst of the turtle mating season and while experts have said that during the mating season some turtles can suffocate and die, the deaths recorded this year were 10 to 20 times higher than that of last year. As of the 18th of June, 50 turtles and 8 dolphins have washed up of the shores across Sri Lanka. This number is worrying because as the days progresses, more marine organisms are washing up on the shores of Sri Lankan beaches. What is even more concerning is the fact that species listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature are also at risk. One such species is the olive ridley Turtle. Wildlife officials have identified the carcass of such species at a tourist resort, south of Colombo in the wake of the fire abroad the MV-X Press Pearl. This disaster therefore is a threat to the biodiversity of Sri Lanka.
There is also one other major environmental concern from this situation, that is the copious amounts of plastic debris entering into the ocean. The large amount of debris when consists of tiny particles we can refer to as plastic pellets. Large amounts of plastic pellets and other plastic debris have been washing up on the coastlines of beaches in Sri Lanka. Some have described the beaches to be covered in these white pellets. The navy personnel are currently clearing pellets from the beach, however more and more comes in each day.
Additionally, when these plastic pellets have been broken down in the sea they form something known as microplastics. Does that name ring a bell?
Microplastics are plastic particles which are 5mm in size. They have been proven to be harmful to marine organisms as they tend to have adsorption properties to toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), heavy metals and pathogens. This property has shown to negatively affect marine organisms as they cause an increase in oxidative stress and also reduces the amount of nutrients taken up by their bodies. Furthermore, microplastics have been shown to have implications at the tissue and cellular levels of marine organisms and affect energy reallocation and reproductive success. Threats to the reproductive abilities of these organisms would have blatant repercussions on the environment as it may threaten biodiversity.
Sri Lanka is therefore facing a major threat to its biodiversity along with other environmental impacts.