The X-Press Pearl had attempted to discharge a container leaking nitric acid before it arrived in Sri Lanka and suffered a devastating blaze.
Operator X-Press Feeders said applications were made to the ports of Hazira in India and Hamad in Qatar to offload the box from the 2,743-teu ship (built 2021).
But the company was advised that there were no specialist facilities or expertise immediately available to deal with the leaking acid.
"Reports that the vessel was denied entry into Hazira port in India and Hamad port in Qatar are incorrect," X-Press added.
"The ship underwent discharge and loading operations in both ports before continuing on its planned journey to Colombo."
Company officials have blamed an acid leak caused by poor packaging for the 20 May incident.
The Sri Lanka Air Force released footage on Thursday evening that showed what it claimed showed the flames subsiding. But flickers could still be seen amid the charred wreckage of twisted containers and the blackened superstructure.
X-Press Feeders said firefighting operations led by Smit Salvage to extinguish the blaze had continued despite the ongoing adverse weather conditions.
Constant firefighting
"Firefighting tugs have constantly been spraying and misting the stricken vessel with support from the Sri Lankan Navy and Indian coastguard, who remain on scene. The ship remains at anchor off Colombo port," the company said.
A crew member who was transferred to a special facility in a military hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week remains asymptomatic.
The seafarer is also recovering from a leg injury sustained during his evacuation from the vessel. A second injured crew member continues to recover from his injuries in a local hospital.
The other 23 seafarers who remain in a Colombo quarantine facility are in good health and are in contact with their families.
The ship, delivered in February, is known to be carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid among the 1,486 containers on board.
'No notice' of leak before arrival
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has now issued a statement detailing how the incident evolved.
The authority said that on 19 May the crew informed SLPA that the vessel would arrive off Colombo at midnight.
"As the berth was not ready at that time, the vessel was permitted to remain anchored in the harbour waters, as is usually the process during container operations," SLPA added.
At that time SLPA had not been informed of any specific event or occurrence verbally or in writing by the vessel, the authority said.
But an email was then sent by the ship's agent to the harbour master requesting permission to unload and reassemble a box containing leaking nitric acid, added SLPA.
At noon on 20 May, the port control room was notified that there was smoke inside the ship.
"A few minutes later, the ship's administration had informed the port control of the SLPA that the vessel itself suppressed the situation," SLPA said.
Two hours later, the vessel again informed of smoke being seen. SLPA took prompt action at this point, deploying the services of its fire brigade to the distressed vessel within a short period of an hour, the authority added.
