Sri Lanka ship sinking: authorities brace for worst-case scenario oil slick

The MV X-Press Pearl, on fire for 13 days within sight of the island's west coast, has already caused the country's worst maritime environmental disaster

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  Smoke rises from the 'MV X-Press Pearl' as it sinks while being towed into deeper waters near Colombo Harbour in Sri Lanka. The operation has since been stopped after part of the ship hit the seabed. Reuters

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  The vessel, which is carrying hundreds of tonnes of chemicals and plastics, was on fire for about two weeks. Reuters

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  Sri Lankan authorities fear the ecological disaster could worsen should the ship's 278 tonnes of bunker oil and 50 tonnes of gas leak into the Indian Ocean. Reuters

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  The Singapore-registered ship is sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka, with a large amount of plastic debris washing up on the country's beaches. EPA

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  Sri Lanka's navy says the 'MV X-Press Pearl' is no longer being towed after the rear of the vessel hit the seabed. Reuters

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  Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had issued the order to move the ship in an attempt to prevent a bigger environmental disaster. AFP

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  Earlier efforts to tow the vessel farther from the coast of Colombo failed because of poor weather. EPA

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  An operation to pump contaminated water from the ship on to barges was also abandoned. Reuters

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  Sri Lanka's navy says an Indian coastguard vessel has the equipment to deal with an oil spill from the 'MV X-Press Pearl' if necessary. EPA

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  Sri Lanka is facing its worst maritime environmental disaster as the vessel sinks off its coast. AFP

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  The Singapore-registered ship is carrying hundreds of containers of chemicals and plastics. AFP

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  Oil has been seen near the beaches of Negombo, about 40 kilometres from Colombo, as the 'MV X-Press Pearl' sinks off Sri Lanka's coast. AFP

Sri Lankan authorities said on Thursday they are preparing for the worst-case scenario – an oil slick from the burnt-out cargo ship sinking off Colombo's main harbour.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority readied oil dispersants, booms and skimmers in the event of a leak from the MV X-Press Pearl, which has nearly 350 tonnes of oil in its fuel tanks.

The vessel, which burnt for 13 days within sight of the island's west coast, is the cause of the country's worst maritime environmental disaster, littering the beaches with huge volumes of plastic pollution.

But officials fear an even greater ecological crisis if the ship's oil leaks into the Indian Ocean.

"There is no oil leak from the ship yet, but arrangements are in place to deal with a possible spill, which is the worst-case scenario," said navy spokesman Indika de Silva.

An Indian coastguard vessel in the area has equipment to deal with an oil slick before it could reach the beaches, according to the Sri Lankan navy, which has requested additional assistance.

The Singaporean operators of the MV X-Press Pearl said the vessel continued to sink slowly after efforts to tow it farther from the coast on Wednesday failed.

"X-Press Feeders ... can confirm that the ship's aft portion is sitting on the seabed at a depth of about 21 metres, and the forward section is settling down slowly," the company said on Thursday.

Sri Lanka's navy said the bow of the vessel was still above the waterline on Thursday morning.

"Even if the bow also hits the sea bed, still there will be a section of the upper deck and bridge sticking out of the water," Capt de Silva said.