Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment of X-press Pearl Marine Disaster

The X-Press Pearl incident can be considered as the worst maritime disaster to have struck in the history of Sri Lanka. It had a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s sensitive costal environment, local communities and the economy. The extent of the disaster caught the attention of international bodies including the United Nations (UN). This paper focuses on identifying hazards and risks caused by the X-Press Pearl incident and the steps that should be taken to minimize the impact on marine and social bodies.