X-Press Feeders calls for ‘rational decision-making’ following USD 1 billion Sri Lanka ruling

Singapore-based global maritime container shipping company X-Press Feeders on Thursday (14 August) said it is “deeply concerned” with the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, which orders an initial payment of USD 1 billion within a year, in relation to X-Press Pearl’s casualty.

On 20 May 2021, the Singapore-registered container ship, which was carrying 1,486 containers, encountered a fire that started in the cargo area while at anchor about nine nautical miles from the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka and subsequently sank. 

According to media reports, billions of plastic nurdles washed up after the disaster along with dead turtles, dolphins and fishes.

X-Press Feeders said it has expressed deep regret to the people of Sri Lanka from the very start for the impact of the X-Press Pearl’s sinking and remained committed to fully assist the government of Sri Lanka in all clean-up operations

“Whilst we recognise the need for compensation for any environmental damage, we believe that it must be done in an equitable and fair manner that identifies the failings in the response and clean-up operations of the Sri Lankan government and is based on expert, scientifically based assessment of damages, without having a severe human impact,” the company said. 

“Indeed, to limit the environmental impact, the Owners have, to date, paid over USD 150 million to remove the wreck, remove nurdles from the beaches, and compensate the affected fishermen.”

The company also said the court’s intent to lay all blame and liability on the vessel’s owners and operators is “blatantly apparent in their judgment on the Sri Lankan authorities’ role in the incident”.

“It exonerates the actions of the Harbour Master and Director General of Merchant Shipping, despite their own experts boarding and inspecting the vessel and raising no alarm or immediate reason for concern, more than a week before the X-Press Pearl sank. It also ignores the vessel’s pleas for help and the refusal by three ports (in Qatar, India, and Sri Lanka) to offload the container before the fire started.”

The company expressed concerns on the repercussions of the court ruling. 

“For more than 40 years, X-Press Feeders have been pivotal players in Sri Lankan trade. However, this judgment, which ignores accepted international maritime law, establishes an unprecedented level of risk that we, along with most shipping companies, will struggle to meet,” it said.

“We fear the inevitable rise in import-export costs and the broader impact on the people of Sri Lanka.”

“We urge all parties involved to consider the implications and ramifications of these interim findings and appeal for rational decision-making and judgments regarding liability and compensation that address the needs for environmental rehabilitation and compensation whilst ensuring the ongoing viability of trade for Sri Lankan people.”

Related: ‘X-Press Pearl’ starts to sink off Sri Lanka’s coast, no more towing needed, says Navy
Related: Singapore-flagged “X-Press Pearl” hull remains fully intact, no bunker spill detected
Related: X-Press Feeders makes initial compensation of US$3.6 million to Sri Lankan government
Related: Sri Lanka to sue Singapore-registered owners of “MV X-Press Pearl” for marine pollution
Related: MPA: Operations underway to minimise environmental impact of ‘X-Press Pearl’
Related: Sri Lanka: Trico Maritime arrests “X-Press Kohima”; seeks USD 622,000 claim over “X-Press Pearl” incident

Photo credit: Sri Lanka Air Force – SLAF Media
Published: 18 August, 2025