News
X-Press Pearl disaster fuels global call to classify plastic pellets as hazardous
Nearly five years after the catastrophic sinking of the X-Press Pearl, off Sri Lanka’s western coast, the environmental scars remain visible — from contaminated beaches to disrupted fisheries. Now, that tragedy has become a rallying point for an international coalition of scientists, demanding urgent reforms to global maritime law.
A group of leading researchers and environmental experts is calling on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to formally recognise plastic pellets — commonly known as nurdles — as hazardous to the marine environment. They argue that existing international shipping regulations fail to adequately address the environmental devastation caused by pellet spills.
Their appeal comes through a newly accepted scientific commentary, published in Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, consolidating decades of research on the impacts of plastic pellet pollution.
Plastic pellets are small, lentil-sized (2–5 mm) particles made from virgin or recycled plastic and used to manufacture a vast range of plastic
products. Scientists say that spills occur frequently during handling and transport, both on land and at sea. Once released into the ocean, pellets persist for decades, spreading across vast distances and entering marine food chains.
Dr. Jennifer Lavers, who studies pollutants in seabirds, warned that the scale of plastic ingestion has reached crisis levels.
“Today the volumes of plastic pellets entering the marine environment are enough to ‘feed’ millions of young seabirds,” she said. “In some areas we are seeing nearly a 100% rate of plastic ingestion, with pellets being particularly problematic.”
Beyond physical harm such as digestive blockages in wildlife, pellets also pose chemical threats. According to Dr. Sinja Rist of DTU Aqua, they are far from inert materials.
“Pellets are persistent, widely dispersed, readily ingested by wildlife, and capable of transporting hazardous chemicals,” she explained, noting that they can absorb and release toxic substances across oceans.
Sri Lanka’s experience with the X-Press Pearl disaster, in 2021, highlighted these dangers on an unprecedented scale. The burning container ship released vast quantities of chemicals and billions of plastic pellets into the sea, causing widespread marine contamination and severe economic losses to coastal communities.
Hemantha Withanage, Chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Justice in Sri Lanka, said the disaster exposed major gaps in international maritime regulation.
“After studying the aftermath of the X-Press Pearl disaster, it is impossible to argue that plastic pellets are harmless cargo,” Withanage stressed. “The impacts in Sri Lanka were immediate, widespread, and long-lasting. Stronger international regulation is essential to prevent this from happening again.”
Under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the intentional discharge of plastics is banned. However, scientists argue that current rules are inadequate when it comes to preventing or responding to accidental spills, especially those involving container ships.
The researchers are urging the IMO to assign plastic pellets a specific United Nations classification number. Such recognition would formally acknowledge their environmental hazard potential and trigger stricter requirements for packaging, labelling, and emergency notification during shipping.
Dr. Therese Karlsson, lead author of the commentary and Science Advisor for the IPEN, said the scientific case is clear.
“There are decades of studies highlighting threats from plastic pellets released into the oceans, including risks to marine animals and the food chain,” she said. “Plastics contain thousands of chemicals, many known to cause harm to the environment and human health. It is past time for global regulations to protect our oceans.”
The European Union has recently introduced measures aimed at preventing pellet losses throughout the supply chain, and in 2021 the IMO committed to addressing pellet pollution as part of broader efforts to reduce marine plastic litter. Yet experts warn that without binding global action, pellet spills will continue.
For Sri Lanka, still recovering from one of the worst maritime environmental disasters in its history, the international call carries particular urgency.
Scientists say the message from the island nation’s experience is unmistakable: plastic pellets must no longer be treated as ordinary cargo, but as hazardous materials demanding strict global oversight.
By Ifham Nizam
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purposes, departed the island on 04 Mar 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo
A day after a US submarine sunk an Iranian Navy warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Sayed Abbas Araghchi, has warned that the US would “pay bitterly” for targeting a ship in international waters, The Tribune has reported.
Araghchi posted on social media platform X on Thursday saying, “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.”
The frigate IRIS Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning, said the Iran Foreign Minister, adding, “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, on Wednesday confirmed that a US submarine fired a torpedo and sank the Iranian Navy vessel IRIS Dena west of Sri Lanka.
In a way, the Iran and US-Israel conflict has reached close to the Indian coast. The strike today at sea was almost 4,000 kms away from Iran, significantly expanding the radius of war. Already, fearing Iranian missile strikes, several US warships have moved eastward towards India.
These ships are in international waters. India has denied that any US Navy assets were using Indian ports. The Iranian ship, hit on Wednesday, was returning after participating in the international fleet review and exercise Milan hosted by India at Visakhapatnam.
The Iranian ship went down with almost 130 sailors on board missing. The Sri Lankan Navy, acting on a distress call, rescued 32 of the Iranian sailors. Hegseth confirmed the act by the US forces, saying the ship was hit in the Indian Ocean, stating, “an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. .. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo”.
Hegseth did not name the Iranian ship that was attacked. But earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy reported the distress call from IRIS Dena when it was some 40 kms west of Galle, located on the south-western part of the island country. On February 16, the Iranian ship had sailed into the port of Visakhapatnam, where seventy-four nations participated.
Warships from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and dozens of others were anchored alongside the now-sunk Iranian vessel. Iran’s Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, held talks with India’s Chief of Naval Staff on strengthening maritime security cooperation.
The theme was “United through Oceans.” Notably, the US Navy was supposed to send the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney to the exercise Milan; however, the ship was diverted to Singapore on February 15. The US did not field its warship in Milan, which had ships from Russia and Iran.
The exercise ended on February 25. Three days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury. The IRIS Dena was transiting home. This morning at 5:08 a.m. local time, the IRIS Dena issued a distress call. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, informed parliament that two navy vessels and an aircraft were deployed. Thirty crew members were rescued and admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.
The Straits Times reported 32 critically wounded survivors. Reuters reported 101 missing and 78 wounded. The Sri Lankan Navy spokesman said the operation was conducted in line with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has warned of a possible risk of power cuts due to the use of inferior quality coal affecting generation capacity at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, according to a recent commission report.
The commission said the risk to the continuous electricity supply was assessed based on the peak demand forecast submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for 2026.
According to the report, the analysis assumed that hydropower plants could contribute up to 1,300 MW to meet the night peak demand, while the Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPS) would be able to contribute only up to 690 MW due to a capacity shortfall, assuming a 40 MW generation capacity reduction from each unit.
The PUCSL said the assessment was carried out taking into account the planned maintenance schedule submitted by the CEB. Under the schedule, Unit 1 of the Lakvijaya plant is due to undergo maintenance checks and repairs in June for a period of 25 days, while Unit 2 is scheduled for maintenance in July for another 25 days.
The report also noted that the 270 MW West Coast Power Plant is scheduled to undergo maintenance in April for 10 days, while the 150 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant (KCCP 2) is expected to undergo maintenance during May, June and July.
Under normal conditions, the report said, there is a potential risk of a generation capacity shortage if electricity demand reaches 3,030 MW in April, 3,070 MW in June and 3,000 MW in July.
The highest recorded night peak demand so far in 2026 was 2,949 MW on February 25.
The PUCSL further warned that if one coal unit or any major power plant becomes unavailable from the existing generation mix, there would be a significant risk of a generation capacity shortage to meet the night peak demand, particularly during April, June and July.
Energy sector analysts said the use of substandard coal could further aggravate operational challenges at the Norochcholai plant, potentially affecting generation efficiency and reliability if corrective measures are not taken promptly.
By Ifham Nizam
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