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Controversial ship to leave Sri Lankan waters

The “Hippo Spirit” carrying a controversial fertiliser consignment shipped by China-based Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd., will leave Sri Lanka’s waters, the Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage told the Court of Appeal on Dec 8 when a writ petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) was taken up. The petition was called before Court of Appeal Judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola. In November the Ministry of Agriculture stated that it will not accept the reports of any tests carried out by a third party on the controversial fertiliser samples of China-based Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. The Schutter Global Inspection and Survey Company Ltd., the third-party testing agency selected by Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group, stated that no harmful characteristics such as coliform bacteria, salmonella, and ascarid eggs were found in the fertiliser samples provided by the said Chinese company. The Chinese company has sent a Letter of Demand seeking a sum of $ 8 million in damages from the NPQS. Following tests carried out by local testing agencies, including the NPQS, on the second set of samples of organic fertiliser made in China that have confirmed the presence of harmful bacteria in the said samples, the Agriculture Ministry recently decided not to import organic fertiliser from the said Chinese company. In this backdrop, State Minister of Promoting the Production and Regulating the Supply of Organic Fertiliser, and Paddy and Grains, Organic Foods, Vegetables, Fruits, Chillies, Onion, and Potato Cultivation Promoting, Seed Production, and Advanced Technology Agriculture Shasheendra Rajapaksa stated on Oct 16 that China had refused to accept the results of the tests conducted so far.

Bulk carrier en route to Singapore

The litigation refraining local banks not to remit the cost of organist fertilizer to Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. of China is yet to conclude. The 'Hippo Spirit' has left the proximity of Sri Lanka. The ship was sailing to Singapore for sampling and arbitration in Singapore with an ETA as of Dec 10.

Hippo Spirit off Beruwala

The 'Hippo Spirit', which was carrying 20.000 tons rejected Chinese organic fertilizer which was destined from the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd. to Sri Lanka, is now located 12.4 nautical miles away from Beruwala. The ship did not return to China after the first samples were rejected by Sri Lanka. Instead, she had sailed to Singapore and altered its course back to Sri Lanka, without returning to China. On Oct 14 the AIS was deactivated at the Malakka Strait. On Oct 24 she was tracked in Hambantota under the name 'Seiyo Explorer'.