Press Statements

X-Press Feeders, the former operator of the container ship X-Press Pearl, together with its insurer, has carefully considered the July ruling of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka which mandates an initial payment of USD 250 million on 23 September 2025, as part of an interim USD 1 billion order. After review, we are unable to make payment at this stage whilst we continue to seek engagements with the relevant Sri Lankan authorities.

X-Press Feeders, the former operator of the container ship X-Press Pearl, 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 the vessel’s casualty. 

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship X-Press Pearl, welcomes statements by Sri Lanka’s new government that there will be a renewed focus on the clean-up and compensation processes in the aftermath of the vessel’s fire and sinking event in May 2021, in the hope that bureaucratic and legal hurdles that have caused severe delays can now be overcome.

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', are pleased to confirm that the forward section of the wreck has now left Sri Lankan waters aboard the semi-submersible GPO Amethyst en route to a certified decommissioning facility in Indonesia for dismantling, recycling, and disposal. 

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl,' can confirm that the operation to lift the fore section of the wreck has resumed with the passing of the southwest monsoon season. The Shanghai Salvage Companies' onsite team, with tandem lifting, barges Zhong Sheng 166 and Han Hang Da Jian, have started preparations for the lifting and removal of the fore section of the wreck after successfully removing the aft section of the wreck in January.

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', through the vessel owner’s P&I insurers, have made two further payments to the Sri Lankan government for claims relating to beach clean-up operations.

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', can confirm that salvage works on the wreck have been suspended for the arriving southwest monsoon season. The Shanghai Salvage Companies' onsite team, with tandem lifting, barges ZR122 and ZR123, have now demobilised, having put in place caretaking arrangements at the site to monitor the situation during the monsoonal months. 

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', are pleased to confirm that the aft section of the wreck has now left Sri Lankan waters aboard the semi-submersible FAN ZHOU 10 en route to a certified decommissioning facility for dismantling, recycling, and disposal. 

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', are pleased to confirm that the aft section of the wreck has been successfully raised from the sea floor and is aboard the semi-submersible FAN ZHOU 10. The wreck section will now be transported to a certified decommissioning facility for dismantling, recycling, and disposal.

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', can confirm that salvage works on the wreck have re-commenced after the end of the southwest monsoon season. The Shanghai Salvage Company has commenced wreck-cutting operations and has successfully removed the accommodation block. The focus now is on cutting the hull into two sections for lifting.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', can confirm that salvage works on the wreck have been suspended for the arriving southwest monsoon season. The Shanghai Salvage Company has successfully installed all the lifting slings and messenger wires in preparation for the removal of the wreck sections. They have now demobilised, leaving a guard vessel at the site to monitor the situation during the monsoonal months. Their engineering works ashore continue at full capacity, with assets being prepared for the lifting and recovery of the two wreck sections during the first quarter of 2023.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', report that all cargo debris outside the wreck's 1,000-meter safety zone has now been recovered from water depths over 10 meters, including the final two nurdle containers. Resolve Marine is no longer engaged in any offshore activities, and its chartered support vessel MMA PRESTIGE has been demobilised and returned to Singapore. Resolve continues its work onshore to confirm that all recovered cargo debris is processed in Sri Lanka according to the relevant waste disposal laws. 

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', are relieved to report that three of the remaining four former crewmembers of the vessel have had their travel bans lifted by a Sri Lankan court on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Arrangements are currently being made for their immediate repatriation to their families after spending nearly eight months in Sri Lanka after their evacuation from the vessel on May 25, 2021.

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', can confirm that the salvage operation to remove the vessel's wreck will occur in four phases over two seasons, with all onsite operations expected to be completed by April 2023.

X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', can confirm that work to recover containers and debris lost overboard during the vessel fire, and subsequent sinking continues with over 60 open container loads of refuse already retrieved from the anchorage floor.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', are pleased to report that a further four former crewmembers of the vessel have had their travel bans lifted by a Sri Lankan court on Friday, December 10, 2021. Arrangements are currently being made for their immediate repatriation to their families after spending more than six months in Sri Lanka after their evacuation from the vessel on May 25, 2021.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', signed a contract with the Shanghai Salvage Company (SSC) on Thursday December 2, 2021 for the removal of the wreck.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', are pleased to report that 11 of its seafarers have been repatriated to their home country after the lifting of a travel ban by the Sri Lankan courts on July 13.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', through the vessel owner’s P&I insurers, have made an initial payment of US$3.6 million to the Sri Lankan government to help compensate those affected by the consequences of the fire and sinking of the vessel. Discussions are ongoing on the payment of further claims and all legitimate claims will be considered.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', report that caretakers salvors continue to observe a grey sheen emanating from the wreck; however, it has lessened over the last week. They remain onsite on a 24-hour watch to deal with any possible debris and report any form of a spill.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the wreck is now wholly sitting on the seabed at a depth of 21 meters. Caretakers salvors are onsite on a 24-hour watch to deal with any possible debris and report any form of a spill.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the vessel's bow and forecastle deck are now submerged, and the forward section of the hull continues to slowly settle to the seabed at a depth of 21 meters. Observations from the Salvors as of 0600 Sri Lanka local time are there has been no noticeable fuel oil spill, and some minor debris has been collected.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl', confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains the same with no signs of debris and no reports of fuel oil pollution as of 1800 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains the same with no signs of debris and no reports of fuel oil pollution as of 0700 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains the same with no signs of debris and no reports of oil pollution as of 1500 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that the situation on scene remains the same as late yesterday with no signs of debris and no reports of oil pollution as of 0700 Sri Lanka local time.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship X-Press Pearl confirm that the ships aft portion is sitting on the seabed at a depth of about 21 meters, and the forward section is settling down slowly. Salvors remain on scene supported by the Sri Lankan Navy and the Indian Coast Guard off the Port of Colombo.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' regret to report that despite salvors successfully boarding the vessel and attaching a tow wire, efforts to move the ship to deeper waters have failed, and the ships aft portion is now touching bottom at a depth of 21 meters. As of 1500 Sri Lanka time, the foreward area of the vessel remains afloat with smoke coming out of Cargo Holds No 1 and 2.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' confirm that salvors report no visible flames aboard the vessel, though smoke is still emitting intermittently from cargo holds 1, 2 and 3.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' confirm that salvors report no visible flames aboard the vessel, though smoke is still issuing from areas in the ship's aft.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' report that firefighting operations to extinguish the blaze aboard the vessel have further reduced the area affected by flames to small spot fires in the aft of the ship.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' report that firefighting operations to extinguish the blaze aboard the vessel have successfully reduced the area affected by flames and contained it to the aft of the ship, despite the adverse weather conditions.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' can confirm that firefighting operations to extinguish the blaze aboard the vessel have continued through today despite the ongoing adverse weather conditions.

X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' (IMO: 9875343) report that efforts to extinguish the fire onboard are ongoing with three firefighting tugs, helicopters and the Sri Lankan Navy and Indian coastguard on scene.

X-Press Feeders, disponent owners/operators, and managers of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl' (IMO: 9875343), report that all crew members were safely evacuated today from the vessel, after the fire incident onboard the vessel.

Fire/smoke still remains on board the vessel but is currently under control. More firefighting tugs have been deployed and they will continue to fight the fire. The salvage team with fire experts and firefighters are already on board the vessel and are carrying out the risk assessment. They have already taken steps to stop the spreading of fire into other areas.