If you have insured cargo on board the following vessels and would like us to assist you in pursuing any claims arising from these incidents (or any similar cases), or if you require assistance in providing GA or salvage guarantees, please contact us as soon as possible.
Date: 20 May 2021 Type: Fire Voyage: Middle East/India/Sri Lanka
Second Casualty Report
X-PRESS PEARL has now been on fire in the seas off Sri Lanka for around 11 days.
Initial attempts to control the fire whilst the vessel was off Colombo were unsuccessful.
It appears that the even the involvement of professional Salvors Smit has not saved the vessel and the majority, and perhaps all, of the cargo on board. Latest reports though suggest that the fire is now under control.
The two crewmembers injured during the rescue operation are reported to be in stable condition.
It has been reported by several sources that the vessel suffered a hazmat cargo leakage, possible nitric acid, shortly before the fire broke out. However, the vessel was not permitted to enter Indian or Qatari waters as places or refuge.
If any cargo has survived and can be brough ashore, the insurers of that cargo are likely to be asked to meet quite substantial salvage and general average claims. We have surveyors standing by in Colombo and have many years experience of dealing with salvage and general average claims for cargo insurers. Please contact us if you require assistance.
Initial Casualty Report
Reports have been received that Singaporean flag vessel X-PRESS PEARL (32,000gt, built 2021) is on fire off the port of Colombo.
Various emergency craft are in attendance. The Sri Lankan Navy is also assisting with firefighting. The cause of the fire is not yet known but appears to have originated in a cargo, possibly chemicals.
Before arriving off Colombo, X-PRESS PEARL had called at the following ports:
Hazira, India: 15 May 2021
Hamad, Qatar: 11 May 2021
Jebel Ali, UAE: 10 May 2021
Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia: 30 April 2021
Singapore: 29 April 2021
There will be cargo damage because of this incident, and it is also possible that claims for General Average and Salvage will be made against cargo insurers.
