Burnt-out container ship sinks in sea; Sri Lankan Navy bracing for possible oil spill SECTIONS Last Updated: Jun 02, 2021, 11:48 PM IST Share Synopsis Water submerged the MV X-Press Pearl's rear end a day after firefighters from Sri Lanka and India climbed onto the vessel and extinguished a blaze that had been burning for 12 days. AFP The entire western coastal line has become swamped with the waste from the vessel's fire – mostly plastic beads which are harmful to the marine ecology, experts have said. The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday said that it is getting ready to deal with a possible oil spill after the fire-stricken Singapore-flagged cargo ship laden with chemicals sank in the outer Colombo Harbour following an unsuccessful bid to tow the vessel to deeper seas.