Mauritius facing catastrophe as oil starts leaking from a shipwreck near pristine coral reefs
Will Brown,The Telegraph•August 7, 2020
People look at MV Wakashio bulk carrier that had run aground and from which oil is leaking near Blue bay Marine Park in southeast Mauritius on August 6, 2020. - L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty ImagesThe island nation of Mauritius is facing an environmental crisis after a huge container ship ran aground and started to leak oil into an area home to some of the finest coral reefs in the world.
Efforts to pump oil out of the ship have failed, and now there are fears that the carrier could start to break up, leading to an even greater leak and causing catastrophic damage on the island’s pristine coastline.
“We are in an environmental crisis situation,” said the environment minister, Kavy Ramano,
The carrier MV Wakashio, which belongs to a Japanese company and flew a Panamanian-flagged, was en route from China to Brazil when it ran aground near Pointe d’Esny on the island’s southeastern coast on 25 July.
The vessel’s crew have been evacuated safely and the container was not carrying a cargo load when wrecked. However, the 1,000ft vessel was carrying 90 tonnes of lubricant oil, 200 tonnes of diesel and 3,800 tonnes of bunker fuel, according to local media outlets.
Now the oil is spreading out of the ship rapidly, according to Sunil Dowarkasing, Greengate Consulting, a Mauritian environmental consultancy, who was on the beach in sight of wreck.
“It’s really very bad because now despite all the measures, the oil has already reached the shores of Mauritius and polluted the shorelines. You can see fish dying. The situation is out of control,” Mr Dowarkasing told The Telegraph.
Mr Dowarkasing said that the wreck was near four major wildlife and maritime sanctuaries, which contained flora and fauna unique to the island. He added that there was a 100-year-old ‘brain’ coral nearby in the Blue Bay Marine Park.
“Thousands of species around the pristine lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d’Esny and Mahebourg are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius’ economy, food security and health,” Happy Khambule from Greenpeace Africa told The Telegraph in a statement.
Mauritius, which lies some 600 miles east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is a major tourist hotspot and tax haven for international corporations and African oligarchs.
The country of 1.2m depends on its seas for food and for tourism, boasting some of the finest coral reefs in the world.
The Mauritian government has asked the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion for assistance.
“This is the first time that we are faced with a catastrophe of this kind and we are insufficiently equipped to handle this problem,” said fishing minister, Sudheer Maudhoo.
MV Wakashio: Ship aground off Mauritius begins leaking oilBBC•August 7, 2020
Satellite images show the vessel leaking fuel off Mauritius
The island nation of Mauritius has declared a state of emergency after a vessel offshore began leaking oil into the ocean.
MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on 25 July and its crew was evacuated.
But the large bulk carrier has since begun leaking tons of fuel into the surrounding waters.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced a "state of environmental emergency" on Friday.
He also appealed to France and its President, Emmanuel Macron, saying that Mauritius "does not have the skills and expertise to refloat stranded ships".
The French island of Reunion lies near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
The island nation of Mauritius has declared a state of emergency after a vessel offshore began leaking oil into the ocean.
MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on 25 July and its crew was evacuated.
But the large bulk carrier has since begun leaking tons of fuel into the surrounding waters.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced a "state of environmental emergency" on Friday.
He also appealed to France and its President, Emmanuel Macron, saying that Mauritius "does not have the skills and expertise to refloat stranded ships".
The French island of Reunion lies near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
Map
Mauritius is home to world-renowned coral reefs, and tourism is a crucial part of the nation's economy.
Happy Khambule of Greenpeace Africa said that "thousands" of animal species "are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius' economy, food security and health."
The ship - owned by a Japanese company but registered in Panama - was empty when it ran aground, but had some 4,000 tonnes of fuel aboard.
Mauritius is home to world-renowned coral reefs, and tourism is a crucial part of the nation's economy.
Happy Khambule of Greenpeace Africa said that "thousands" of animal species "are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution, with dire consequences for Mauritius' economy, food security and health."
The ship - owned by a Japanese company but registered in Panama - was empty when it ran aground, but had some 4,000 tonnes of fuel aboard.
The ship was en route from China to Brazil when it ran aground
The vessel has some 4,000 tonnes of fuel on board
MV Wakashio is currently lying at Pointe d'Esny, in an area of wetlands near a marine park.
The environment ministry reportedly said attempts to stabilise the vessel and to pump out the oil failed due to rough seas.
Mauritius country profile
"This is the first time that we are faced with a catastrophe of this kind, and we are insufficiently equipped to handle this problem," Fishing Minister Sudheer Maudhoo said.
Police have opened an inquiry into the spill.
Tourist hotspot Mauritius hit by oil spill as ship grounds
Government says bulk carrier ran aground in the southeast of the island, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.
MV Wakashio is currently lying at Pointe d'Esny, in an area of wetlands near a marine park.
The environment ministry reportedly said attempts to stabilise the vessel and to pump out the oil failed due to rough seas.
Mauritius country profile
"This is the first time that we are faced with a catastrophe of this kind, and we are insufficiently equipped to handle this problem," Fishing Minister Sudheer Maudhoo said.
Police have opened an inquiry into the spill.
Tourist hotspot Mauritius hit by oil spill as ship grounds
Government says bulk carrier ran aground in the southeast of the island, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.
Ecologists fear the ship could break up, which would cause an even greater leak and inflict potentially catastrophic damage on the island's coastline [File- Getty]
Mauritius announced oil is leaking from a bulk carrier that ran aground in the southeast of the island, igniting fears of an environmental catastrophe.
"The ministry has been informed ... that there is a breach in the vessel MV Wakashio and there is a leakage of oil," the environment ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"The public in general, including boat operators and fishers, are requested not to venture on the beach and in the lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d'Esny and Mahebourg."
The carrier, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, ran aground on July 25 and its crew was evacuated safely.
The ship was carrying 200 tonnes of diesel and 3,800 tonnes of bunker fuel, according to the local press.
The grounding happened at Pointe d'Esny, which is listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and near the marine park of Blue Bay.
Anti-pollution systems have been sent to the two sites, the ministry said, adding the government was asking the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion for assistance.
"We are in an environmental crisis situation," Environment Minister Kavy Ramano told a news conference.
Shipping websites say the Wakashio was built in 2007 with a gross tonnage of 101,000 and deadweight tonnage of 203,000, and a length of 300 metres (984 feet).
"This is the first time that we are faced with a catastrophe of this kind, and we are insufficiently equipped to handle this problem," said Fishing Minister Sudheer Maudhoo.
The ministers said all attempts to stabilise the ship had failed because of rough seas, and efforts to pump out the oil also failed.
Ecologists fear the ship could break up, which would cause an even greater leak and inflict potentially catastrophic damage on the island's coastline.
The country depends crucially on its seas for food and for tourism, boasting some of the finest coral reefs in the world.
SOURCE: AFP NEWS AGENCY
SEE
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/locals-in-mauritius-are-going-to-great.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/mauritian-prime-minister-seeks.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-oil-spill-at-mauritius-is-disaster.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/update-mauritius-battles-devastating.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/oil-spill-off-mauritius-is-visible-from.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/france-offers-aid-as-mauritius-declares.html
Mauritius announced oil is leaking from a bulk carrier that ran aground in the southeast of the island, igniting fears of an environmental catastrophe.
"The ministry has been informed ... that there is a breach in the vessel MV Wakashio and there is a leakage of oil," the environment ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
"The public in general, including boat operators and fishers, are requested not to venture on the beach and in the lagoons of Blue Bay, Pointe d'Esny and Mahebourg."
The carrier, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, ran aground on July 25 and its crew was evacuated safely.
The ship was carrying 200 tonnes of diesel and 3,800 tonnes of bunker fuel, according to the local press.
The grounding happened at Pointe d'Esny, which is listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, and near the marine park of Blue Bay.
Anti-pollution systems have been sent to the two sites, the ministry said, adding the government was asking the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion for assistance.
"We are in an environmental crisis situation," Environment Minister Kavy Ramano told a news conference.
Shipping websites say the Wakashio was built in 2007 with a gross tonnage of 101,000 and deadweight tonnage of 203,000, and a length of 300 metres (984 feet).
"This is the first time that we are faced with a catastrophe of this kind, and we are insufficiently equipped to handle this problem," said Fishing Minister Sudheer Maudhoo.
The ministers said all attempts to stabilise the ship had failed because of rough seas, and efforts to pump out the oil also failed.
Ecologists fear the ship could break up, which would cause an even greater leak and inflict potentially catastrophic damage on the island's coastline.
The country depends crucially on its seas for food and for tourism, boasting some of the finest coral reefs in the world.
SOURCE: AFP NEWS AGENCY
SEE
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/locals-in-mauritius-are-going-to-great.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/mauritian-prime-minister-seeks.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-oil-spill-at-mauritius-is-disaster.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/update-mauritius-battles-devastating.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/oil-spill-off-mauritius-is-visible-from.html
https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/08/france-offers-aid-as-mauritius-declares.html
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