An environmental crisis is playing out in the Indian Ocean where a Panamanian-flagged Newcastlemax is beached spitting out bunker fuel on the pristine south-eastern coasts of Mauritius.
The 203,000 dwt wakashio
The ship, owned by Japanese company Nagashiki Shipping, was en route from China to Brazil when it ran aground with 3,800 tons of bunker fuel on board.
“We are in a situation of environmental crisis,” admitted environment minister Kavy Ramano last night, while fisheries minister Sudheer Maudhoo said: “This is the first time we have faced to a disaster of this kind and we are insufficiently equipped to deal with this problem.
This is the first time we have faced a disaster of this kind and we are insufficiently equipped to deal with this problem.
The nearby Blue Bay Marine Park nature reserve has been badly damaged by rare oil-choked corals and turtles while nearby schools are closed due to the noxious smell of bunker fuel.
Efforts are being made to try and pump the remaining fuel from the ship as local politicians have appealed for international help to contain the damage.
The French island of Reunion, located 200 km west of Mauritius, has been put on alert as the slick winds through the ocean.
