Fire-stricken container vessel sinking off Sri Lanka port

Salvage experts are attempting to tow a fire-stricken container ship into the deep sea as the vessel started to sink off Sri Lanka’s main port

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Salvage experts were attempting to tow a fire-stricken container ship that had been loaded with chemicals into the deep sea as the vessel started to sink Wednesday off Sri Lanka's main port, officials said. Water submerged the MV X-Press Pearl's quarterdeck a day after firefighters extinguished a blaze that had been burning for 12 days. Experts were trying to tow the ship farther out to see because if it sank at its current position off the port of Colombo it would cause severe pollution, said navy spokesperson Indika de Silva. The fire erupted on May 20 when the ship was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometers) northwest of Colombo and waiting to enter the port.