The Hippo Spirit vessel can enter the Colombo Port for a service call, but cannot the crew cannot disembark and unload the cargo, said Harbour Master Capt. K M Silva. He made this statement while speaking exclusively to The Morning today (06). "If a service call is required, the vessel can enter the port. But, as of now, the Hippo Spirit vessel has not made the request. This is not an easy process, the local agent has to be informed by the vessel, to which the agent needs to contact the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and arrange for the documentation to be processed. The agent will then need to make an advance payment. For a service call, food, water and medicines will be provided to the vessel, but this also needs clearance. Most importantly, when pertaining to such a vessel, a Dangerous Goods declaration needs to be done. This itself is a lengthy process, and just because a vessel comes, we cannot accept it like that," said Capt Silva. He further clarified that the Navy is in charge of the coastline and security, and the Navy has not been informed or given permission to accept the Hippo Spirit vessel. "The Navy is in charge of security threats which might come in from the seas. This itself is a lengthy process as the vessel needs clearance," stated the Captain. Additionally, Capt Silva clearly mentioned that even yesterday Government officials had mentioned that the cargo aboard the Hippo Spirit will not be accepted into the country for whatsoever reason. "We were informed yesterday as well not to accept the cargo. So, unless plans have changed from last night, we will not accept the vessel," he concluded.