Sri Lanka's maritime pollution watchdog has ordered a fire-hit containership out of its waters.

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) wrote to X-Press Feeders, instructing it to move the 2,743-teu X-Press Pearl (built 2021), which suffered a blaze on deck at anchorage 18 km (11 miles) off Colombo on 20 May.

MEPA said it wanted to ensure the safety of the environment should the situation worsen.

"The company that owns the ship, its local agents and the insurance agent were instructed in writing to take immediate action to control the ship's fuel and chemicals from being mixed with the Sri Lankan marine system," MEPA chairman Dharshani Lahandapura told News 1st.

AIS data showed the vessel still anchored off Colombo on Monday.

Photos released by the Sri Lanka Air Force showed flames and smoke had been brought under control over the weekend.

The MEPA said the fire was still burning on Saturday as two Sri Lanka Ports Authority tugs were engaged in controlling the temperature on the vessel.

Air force responds

A Bell-212 helicopter was deployed from Ratmalana to drop 425 kg of dry chemical powder onto the fire.

"Although around 400 kg dry chemicals were sprayed to contain the fire, given the difficulties in reaching inside the containers aboard the vessel, the containment efforts are not 100% successful," Lahandapura added.

X-Press Feeders has said an "on-deck container" caught fire on 20 May.

"The vessel had taken all precautionary measures throughout the night. However, firefighting is still underway with the assistance of tugs sent by local authorities," X-Press Feeders added on Friday.

"Together with local authorities, X-Press Feeders is actively working on various solutions to put out the fire/smoke on board the vessel, whilst maintaining the safety of our crew," the company said.

Chemical on board

The ship is deployed in the Straits Middle East SMX service.

The Singapore-flagged vessel has 1,486 containers on board, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals and cosmetics, Sri Lankan media reported.

It had arrived from the port of Hazira, India, on 19 May.

The X-Press Pearl's 25 crew are from the Philippines, China, India and Russia.

The sub-panamax ship was ordered for $30m in 2018 and is now worth $45m, according to VesselsValue.

It has protection and indemnity cover through the London P&I Club.