Attempt to tow fire-stricken ship to deep sea off SLanka

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 further out to sea because if it sank at its current position off the port of Colombo it would cause severe pollution. The fire erupted on May 20 when the ship was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles northwest of Colombo and waiting to enter the port.  The blaze destroyed most of the ship's cargo and polluted surrounding waters and a long stretch of the island nation's famed beaches. The vessel's 25 crew members including Philippine, Chinese, Indian and Russian nationals were evacuated last week after an explosion.