Sri Lanka Court Fines Shipping Firm $1 Billion for Largest Marine Plastic Spill

In a landmark ruling, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has ordered the owners of a Singapore-flagged container ship to pay $1 billion in compensation for the environmental disaster caused by a massive spill in June 2021. The court described the incident as the "largest recorded marine plastic spill in the world," resulting in unprecedented devastation to the country's marine environment.

The MV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying a cargo of chemicals, caught fire and sank off the coast of Colombo last year. The incident led to the deaths of 417 turtles, 48 dolphins, 8 whales, and countless other marine life. Debris from the ship, including several tons of plastic pellets used in manufacturing, spread across beaches and into the ocean, poisoning the waters and disrupting the delicate balance of Sri Lanka's coastal ecosystems.

The court found the ship's registered owner, EOS Ro Pte. Limited, along with other charterers and a Sri Lankan agent, liable under the "Polluter Pays Principle." The $1 billion in compensation is intended to fund restoration and protection efforts for the damaged marine and coastal areas, which could include large-scale beach cleanups, habitat restoration, and strengthened safeguards for shipping routes near sensitive waters.

The judgment also noted the significant economic fallout, particularly for Sri Lanka's fishing communities, whose livelihoods were severely impacted by the toxic spill. Marine scientists warn that the microplastic pollution from the incident could linger for years, entering the food chain and potentially impacting human health.