25-May-2021

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.

Despite the best efforts of salvors and firefighting tugs, the blaze had spread overnight, fanned by strong winds. With the crew's safety of utmost importance to X-Press Feeders, the decision was made to evacuate them.

X-Press Feeders will continue to work closely with the Sri Lankan authorities and emergency services with assistance from its appointed salvors to extinguish the blaze and to save the vessel and its cargo. Specialized firefighting equipment which arrived from Europe will join the salvaging operations.

The families of all the crew members have been advised of the safe evacuation of the respective crew, and we will continue to update them of any further developments.

X-Press Feeders will continue to liaise with customers with regard to their containers onboard the vessel.

Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.