Mauritius has arrested the captain of a bulk carrier that ran aground on the coast last month, causing devastating oil radiation in one of the most pristine maritime environments in the world.
Japanese owner MV Wakashio struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island on July 25 and began spilling oil on August 6, prompting the government to declare a state of environmental distress.
The game spreads over a large area of endangered corals, and affects fish and other marine life in what some scientists called the country’s least ecological disaster. Emergency crews managed to remove most of the ship’s remaining oil before splitting it in two on Saturday.
“We arrested the captain and his second-in-command today. They have been taken to court on a mandatory charge. The investigation will continue tomorrow with the interrogation of other crew members,” police inspector Shiva Coothen said. Tuesday.
The two men were accused of endangering safe navigation.
Officials have yet to reveal why the ship, which sailed from Singapore to Brazil, came so close to the island.
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Oil radiation off the coast of Mauritius threatens the ecosystem |
Mauritius’ coastguard had tried several times to reach the ship to warn that its course was dangerous, but had received no response, a maritime official with knowledge of the incident asked not to be named.
“The route set up five days before the accident was wrong and the boat navigation system must signal this to the crew and it appears that the crew ignored it. The boat also failed to send out an SOS [when it ran aground], and did not respond to Coast Guard attempts to make contact, “the official said.
The official confirmed that the crew was questioned about reports that they had a birthday party on board, but said it was not yet clear if the party was being held at the same time that the ship was running as earlier in the day.
He also denied media reports that the ship had sailed near land in search of a Wi-Fi signal, saying the search for a phone signal would not sail so close to land.
The boat sinks
On Tuesday, rescuers began dragging the larger of the two pieces of the Wakashio into the open ocean, where it is to be sunk. The part containing the engine compartment remains wedged on the coral reef.
The decision to sink the boat was taken on Monday in consultation with French experts sent to help Mauritius.
“Since oil has been largely removed and the amount of residual oil is small, it is expected that the impact of the operation on the environment will be limited,” said an official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, part of a team that also helps Mauritius in the wake of the disaster.
Volunteers create oil barriers to pick up leaking oil from MV Wakashio bulk carrier running in Mahebourg, Mauritius [Sumeet Mudhoo/L’Express Maurice/AFP]
Japan announced Monday that it had sent a second team of seven experts to help clean up the game, after sending the first team of six people.
The new team, which will leave on Wednesday, will bring special oil-absorbing materials, donated by a company in Tokyo.
“We want to help local people who are struggling to remove oil,” said Yuki Takenoshita of M-TechX, which developed the material from polypropylene that can absorb 1,200 gallons of oil.
Scientists say the full impact of the game is still lacking, but the damage could affect Mauritius and its tourist-dependent economy for decades.
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