X-Press Feeders, operator of the ill-fated containership X-Press Pearl, has criticized the Sri Lanka Supreme Court for its recent ruling demanding an initial $1 billion payment within a year. The company expressed deep concern, urging for rational decision-making regarding liability and compensation while acknowledging the need for compensation for environmental damage. X-Press highlighted failures by Sri Lankan authorities, including the Harbor Master and environmental officials, who ignored requests to offload the container before the fire.
The company claims the court’s judgment unfairly places all blame on the vessel’s owners and operators. They noted that Sri Lankan experts inspected the ship a week prior to its sinking without raising alarms, and decisive orders to move the vessel further offshore were not issued. Additionally, they argue that the court has effectively deemed the ship’s master and local agents guilty before trial, with the master detained for over four years without representation during the hearings.
X-Press Feeders maintains that the agents had no operational decision-making power, yet the court has mandated further investigations against them. The company believes the ruling disregards international maritime law and sets a dangerous precedent for shipping operations, asserting that it has already spent over $150 million on recovery efforts and compensation for affected fishermen.
