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MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Compensation assessment being revisited

22 Jan 2022

 
  • Interim report ready: MEPA
  • Wreck removal complicated; could take till May
  • Rs. 400 m paid to affected fishermen to date
By Maneesha Dullewe Sri Lanka is expected to receive further compensation of $ 2.15 million this week over the damages caused due to the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura confirmed to The Sunday Morning last Friday (21), adding that the interim report formulated to map damages was being revised with expert help.  She noted that the first interim report on the disaster had been compiled, and that the full report would be completed when the ship and debris were removed from the seabed.  According to Lahandapura, the compensation consists of two parts: “First is the money paid to cover the economic damage and the costs incurred by the MEPA. Moreover, there is also compensation being claimed for the environmental damage caused. This has not been claimed yet and we are compiling an environment damage assessment report for this purpose. We hope to obtain compensation for environmental damage after the report is completed.”  Lahandapura told The Sunday Morning that they were currently revising the first interim report based on the recommendations of the Australian specialists to whom the report was submitted for advice.  She explained that the salvage process was happening in two parts. “One is the removal of the containers on the seabed. The contract for this has been undertaken by Resolve Marine, an American company. About 70% of the container debris has been removed by now. The second part is the removal of the shipwreck. The Shanghai Salvage Company (SSC) has been entrusted with this task and they are attempting to float the wreckage.  “Since it has been identified that the integrity of the ship’s hull may be compromised, they might have to cut the vessel in two. We hope to complete this task by about May 2022. We met the representatives of the SSC who said that this was one of the most difficult removal projects they had undertaken, so finishing it within that timeline will all depend on favourable weather conditions, etc.”  Lahandapura explained that there was no definite time frame for the completion of the compensation process, since compensation could be claimed at the point of each new discovery or environmental impact regardless of how long it would take for the cleanup of the nurdles and other pollutants from the wreck.  Explaining the nature of the compensation, she said: “We will be able to obtain compensation relative to the damage. There is no set limit to the compensation that can be obtained.”  Commenting on compensation owed to fishing communities, Ministry of Fisheries Director General – Technical Division Dhammika Ranatunga said: “We have calculated the compensation that should be received by the fishing community up to 31 October and supplied the calculations to the vessel operators. We have had discussions with them on this and they have also conducted their own assessment. They are expected to return for further assessment around next month. According to the discussions we have had with the company, a certain amount will be paid while the investigation is ongoing. The full compensation will be considered once all their assessments are complete.”  Ranatunga stated that Rs. 400 million had been paid to the fishing community so far as compensation for the disaster.


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