Sri Lanka Supreme Court Orders Singapore Shipowner to Pay $1 Billion for Worst Marine Disaster

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has ordered the Singapore-registered shipping firm Express Feeders, owner of the MV X-Press Pearl, to pay $1 billion in compensation for causing the worst marine environmental disaster in the country's history after the vessel caught fire and sank near Colombo in June 2021. The court found that the ship was carrying hazardous chemicals including 25 tons of nitric acid and 70 billion plastic nurdles, which were released into the ocean, devastating marine life and contaminating an 80-kilometer stretch of coastline. The disaster resulted in the deaths of hundreds of turtles, dolphins, whales, and fish, and led to a fishing ban lasting over a year that severely impacted local fishermen's livelihoods. The court ruled that the ship's master, operator, and agents intentionally concealed the severity of the nitric acid leak from port authorities to gain docking permission, violating international law. Compensation is to be paid in three installments over a year, with all funds to be used for environmental remediation and compensating affected communities. This judgment follows multiple legal actions including earlier limited liability orders and ongoing lawsuits, reflecting the extensive environmental and economic harm caused by the incident.