04-Feb-2022
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.
Phase One commenced in November 2021 and includes the removal of all container remains and cargo debris from water depths over 10 meters. That task is almost completed, with just two outstanding containers to be recovered within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the owners have contracted NARA (National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency) to survey the waters of less than 10 meters depth to identify if any incident-related debris can be detected and recovered. These works should take about four to five weeks and will begin shortly.
Detailed underwater surveys have been completed at the wreck itself, and the heavy fuel bunker tanks have been inspected. A total of 60 cubic meters of oily water was recovered and separated, resulting in about three cubic meters of pure heavy fuel oil being safely removed. The surveys revealed a large crack in the hull around the midship area, so the Shanghai Salvage Company has activated their proposed Contingency Plan, whereby the wreck will be separated into two sections. The forward wreck section with an estimated weight of 18,000 tons, and the aft one with an estimated weight of 13,000 tons.
To raise these two sections, 63 lifting wires will be installed underneath the wreck. Installation works, applying the Horizon Directional Drilling methodology, have already commenced. Salvors will also remove the accommodation block from the hull, with operations due to be suspended at the end of April 2022 for the onset of the southwest monsoon season.
Phase Two will begin in November 2022 with the end of the monsoon season and will see the wreck split in two and preparations made to lift the wreck sections.
Phase Three will start in February 2023. The wreck sections will be raised between two lifting barges, applying a heave compensated strand jack methodology and placed onboard a Semi-Submersible Vessel. The sections with the remaining cargo on board will then be transported to a certified decommissioning facility for further processing.
Finally, Phase Four will see the complete dismantling, recycling, and disposal of the wreck sections and the standing down of all vessels and crews by September 2023.
The salvage teams will continue to be supported by response tugs on a 24-hour watch to deal with any form of pollutants that may be released during the entire recovery and salvage process, and regular water sampling will be ongoing at the site. Representatives from Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority will remain with the recovery crews signing off on their work as it progresses.
On the Sri Lankan beaches, Oil Spill Response Limited, a company specialising in pollution recovery, together with local resources, continue to be engaged in clearing the affected areas from the plastic nurdles and other debris related to the incident.
The vessel owner's P&I insurers are still in discussions with the Sri Lankan government on a second compensation claim to help the local fishing community and others who have been impacted by the consequential costs of the fire and sinking of the vessel.
We continue to work with the Sri Lankan authorities towards the repatriation of the four remaining crew members who are currently housed at a hotel in Colombo. We are providing support to them and their long-suffering families and hope to see them returned home as soon as possible.