X-Press Pearl which is a Singapore registered ship, was settled on the seabed due to a suddenly appeared fire. When the fire is arisen on 20th May, it was near the port of Colombo. The ship, its containers, oil were destroyed. Lots of plastic pellets were accumulated on the Sri Lanka’s coastline (Western coastline). In addition to that, there was a risk of falling acid rains. Lots of fish species such as dolphin, tortoises were died due to the negative impact of this incident. Lots of habitats of aquatic species were also destroyed. Marine fish industry was negatively affected due to people are afraid of consuming marine fish. Therefore, marine fishermen are facing a big crisis. Lots of those people have poor living standards. They lost their income source due to this incident. Oil leakages are not recorded yet. Some believe that the oil may be destroyed/burnt from the fire. The damage to the marine ecosystem, beaches, coral reef, aquatic species is immense. Lots of environmentalists talk about protecting aquatic ecosystems in these days to increase the awareness of the people.
The cause of the fire of ship:
The officials of Sri Lanka assume that a leakage of nitric acid can be the cause of the fire. This acid is highly corrosive, and nitric acid is used at manufacturing explosives, and fertilizers. There have been 81 containers of toxic, and harmful chemicals/substances such as nitric acid out of 1,486 containers. India, and Qatar have not given the permission to the ship, X-Press Pearl before arriving to Sri Lanka’s sea boundary. Inquiries are conducted to find out about this incident.
Reinstating process:
Sri Lankan navy, Marine environment protection authority, governmental organizations, and Non-governmental organizations contribute to remove debris, plastic pellets and other stuffs of the ship from the beaches. They work hard to reinstate the beaches, and the whole marine ecosystem. Sands are cleaned in-situ, and plastic pellets, and other stuffs are collected to bags. Those bags are transported to another area which is not contacted with the public due to harmful chemicals can be available in those stuffs. Even though they cleaned the coastline, debris, plastic pellets are still reaching to the beaches. Even though Sri Lankan government decided to tow the ship into deep sea for minimize the damage, the ship was sunken before towing the ship. Even though lots of adverse effects were happened, lots of volunteers continue the cleaning process. Therefore, the beaches of Sri Lanka can be open for tourists as immediately as possible.
Conclusion:
The negative impact of destroyed X-Press Pearl ship lasts for a long time. But it can be minimized by reinstating process, cleaning, using technological methods, and protecting marine ecosystem.
By: W.I.M.Withanage
Author’s bio
I am Iresha Mihirani who is interested in writing and drawing. I create short stories, articles, scientific fictions, essays, cartoons, and doodles in my leisure time. I write to give a happiness to readers and to express a valuable idea or a message to society. I participate in the essay writing contest which is organized by Monomousumi services, and I contributed to Weaver International Magazine as an editor.
