X-Press Feeders has refused to pay an initial $250 million judgment from the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka regarding the environmental damage caused by the sinking of the XPress Pearl in 2021. The company, based in Singapore, stated it is currently unable to make the payment due on September 23 and is still negotiating with Sri Lankan authorities. CEO Shmuel Yoskovitz expressed concerns that fulfilling the judgment could set a risky precedent for future maritime incident resolutions.
The XPress Pearl faced a catastrophic incident during its final voyage, with containers of nitric acid leaking onboard. Attempts to find a port of refuge were unsuccessful, as officials in Qatar and India denied permission to unload the hazardous cargo. The ship continued to Colombo, where a fire broke out, but local authorities did not allow it to dock for firefighting efforts. The resulting disaster released significant pollutants into the ocean, marking the largest plastic spill in history.
In July 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of local fishermen in an environmental damage lawsuit, estimating the loss at $1 billion and mandating that the ship’s owners pay in quarterly installments. X-Press Feeders criticized the ruling, claiming it unfairly placed full blame on the vessel’s operators before the completion of related criminal proceedings. The company expressed willingness to collaborate with local organizations for direct compensation to affected fishermen, highlighting that all government-approved claims have already been settled.
