MV Wakashio oil spill

MV Wakashio, a large capesize bulk carrier, was built by the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation of Tsu, Japan.[3] She was laid down on 23 September 2004, launched on 9 March 2007, and was delivered on 30 May 2007.[3] She had a deadweight tonnage of 203,000 tons, a length overall of 299.95 metres (984 ft 1 in), and a beam of 50 metres (164 ft 1 in).[3][4] She was powered by a single diesel engine that gave her a service speed of 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h).[3] The ship belonged to Okiyo Maritime Corp., an associate company of Nagashiki Shipping Co. Ltd.,[5] and was operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.[6] At the time of her grounding, Wakashio was flying under a Panamanian flag of convenience, despite her Japanese ownership.[4] The ship was sailing without cargo,[7] and departed from Lianyungang, China on 4 July, stopped in Singapore, and was scheduled to reach Tubarão, Brazil on 13 August.[8] A crew of 20 was on board,[6] none of whom were injured.[5]

Japan's ClassNK inspection body said in a statement on 11 August that the ship had passed an annual inspection in March. Mitsui OSK said they doubted whether the incident would have a significant effect on their earnings.[9]

IMO workers in hazmat suits stand in surf near the wreck on August 13, 2020

Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on 25 July, but did not immediately begin leaking oil.[7] Oil began to leak from the ship on 6 August,[7] by which time Mauritius authorities were trying to control the spill and minimize its effects, isolating environmentally sensitive areas of the coast, while waiting for help from foreign countries to pump out an estimated 3,890 tons of oil remaining on board.[10] By 10 August, about 1,000 metric tons of fuel had spilled, with estimates of the remaining oil onboard ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 metric tons.[7][11] High winds and 5 metres (16 ft) waves halted cleanup efforts on 10 August; visible cracks in the hull of the ship led to worries that the ship might "break in two," according to Mauritius' prime minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.[12] Jugnauth said that 3,000 tons of oil had been pumped out of the ship's fuel reservoirs. Data from Finnish Iceye satellites indicated the spill had increased from 3.3 km² (1.3 sq mi) on 6 August to 27 km² (10 sq mi) on 11 August.[13]

The ship broke up on 15 August when there were still 166 tons of fuel inside. Waves 4.5 metres (15 ft) high hindered cleanup.[14] After she split, Wakashio's bow section was towed into the open ocean and scuttled on 24 August.[15] Recovery operations continued around the stern section, which remained aground, and on 31 August a tugboat working on the wreck sank after colliding with a barge in heavy weather, killing at least three crewmembers.[16] In October, a salvage contract for the remaining stern section of Wakashio, still grounded on the reef, was awarded to Lianyungang Dali Underwater Engineering of China, which planned to begin deconstruction in December and continue for at least several months.[17]

According to investigators who conducted interviews with crew members, the crew had been celebrating the birthday of a sailor on board the ship at the time of the grounding, had sailed near shore for a wi-fi signal.[18] However, local police denied reports that the ship had sailed close to land seeking a Wi-Fi signal, saying that looking for a phone signal would not have required sailing so close to land.[19] Plus, the ship's vessel operator, Mitsui OSK Lines, stated that their fleet had access to free and unlimited internet access.[20] The ship then failed to respond to warnings of the errant course.[18][21] The ship's captain, a 58-year old Indian national named Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, and deputy captain were arrested on 18 August on suspicion of negligence in operating the vessel.[22][23][19]

The grounding happened at an area which is listed under the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance and near the marine park of Blue Bay.[4][24] Tourism plays a major role in the economy of Mauritius, accounting for about 63 billion Mauritian rupees (US$1.59 billion) in spending in 2019, and is centered around marine scenery and animals likely to be endangered by the oil spill.[25] Greenpeace stated that "[t]housands of species [...] are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security and health."[25]

Pointe d'Esny beach before the oil spill

Oceanographer and environmental engineer Vassen Kauppaymuthoo said, "Around a little bit less than 50 percent of this lagoon is covered by environmentally sensitive areas, be it corals, be it seagrass, be it mangroves, be it entire mudflats, sand beaches and dunes, which is huge. Which confirms the sensitivity of this lagoon, in terms of oil spill." Ecotoxicologist Christopher Goodchild from Oklahoma State University said, "With this oil spill it looks like there is infiltration out of the mangroves, so you have the oily substance that can bind to organic matter or dirt and start to settle in and just being able to remove that toxic sediment can be a real challenge."[40] Flakes of the damaged anti-fouling coating on the hull can also poison the marine fauna and flora on the reef and surroundings in a similar fashion to what occurred on the Great Barrier Reef.[41] Reuters quoted unnamed scientists as saying that the spill was likely the worst environmental incident in the history of Mauritius, with effects possibly lingering for decades.[14]

From 6 to 11 August, the spill expanded to over 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi).[42] The island's environment minister Kavy Ramano, together with the fisheries minister, told the press that it was the first time that the country faced a catastrophe of this magnitude, and that they were insufficiently equipped to handle the problem.[4]

Many dead sea mammals washed up on local beaches in the days following the spill,[38] and more have been found seriously ill.[34] Among the dead animals are dolphins[38][34][43] and melon-headed whales.[34]

Mauritius requested compensation for the spill from Wakashio owner Nagashiki Shipping, which according to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage is responsible for oil damage. The ruling treaty for the circumstances of the incident is the 1976 Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, which prescribes a maximum payout of 2 billion Japanese yen in the original draft to which Mauritius is a signatory, and 7 billion yen according to a 1996 amendment signed by Japan. Wakashio is insured by the Japanese P&I Club for up to US$1 billion; the agency said it expected to pay at least some portion of the cost of the recovery effort.[44]

On 2 September 2020, Mauritius also asked Japan to pay $34 million in reparations for the disaster; the island nation demanded the money to "support local fishermen whose livelihoods were adversely impacted by an oil leak last month", according to a Mauritian government document.[45]

The ship's operator/charterer, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, pledged ¥1 billion (about US$9.4 million).[46] The Mauritius Natural Environment Recovery Fund will "fund environmental projects and support the local fishing community".[47] The president of MOL cited the payment as their "social responsibility" while apologizing for the damage.[47] MOL also expects that ship owner Nagashiki Shipping will contribute to the Fund.[47]

• Katrina P oil spill
• List of oil spills

• Mauritius oil spill: An alarm bell for environmental safety (by Nick Clark, Al Jazeera)