A Japanese granelero that crashed into a coral reef off the coast of Mauritius and leaked at least 1,000 tons of fuel passed an annual inspection in March to any problems, Japanese inspection firm ClassNK announced Tuesday.
The ship, MV Wakashio, owned by Nagashiki Shipping and operated through Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, crashed into the reef on July 25 and the fuel leak raised fears of a primary ecological crisis on the Indian Ocean island.
Having already declared a state of emergency, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said the shipment had ceased to have fuel leaks, but that the island country has yet to prepare for “the worst case scenario.”
“We’ll do everything we can around the stage quickly,” Mitsui OSK said in a statement Tuesday, adding that he doubted that the incident would have a significant enough effect on his earnings to justify posting a disclosure to investors. .
The company said it had sent six workers to the site and was contemplating sending more as well as transportation supplies. The body of deployed workers underwent coronavirus tests before being sent.
Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said it had joined foreign efforts to have Mauritius combat the fuel spill by providing technical recommendations and coordinating the response. United Nations agencies and other foreign organizations also mobilized experts on the environment and oil spills.
Mauritius volunteers on Tuesday caught dead eels in oily waters while trying to cover up unspoiled beaches.
Activists told Reuters that dead eels floated in the water and that dead starfish were marked with a sticky black liquid. Crabs and seabirds die.
“We don’t know what can happen more with the boat, it would possibly break more,” said Yvan Luckhun, a cleaning volunteer.
The Wakashio MV still contains about 2,000 tons of oil and is expected to finally disintegrate, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said Monday night, warning that the country will have to prepare for the worst.
Tourism is a major component of Mauritius’ economy. The government, which declared an emergency on Friday due to the oil spill, is running with the former French colonial leader to check the oil.
The spill was delayed by two decades of recovery of herb plants in the lagoon, which began after the government banned sand collection in the domain in 2000, said Vikash Tatayah, conservation director of the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation, a non-governmental organization.
The fragmentation of oil at sea damages corals when the heaviest remnants of oil are deposited on them, he said, adding that measures taken through the government to save them from the crisis are also being examined.
“There is anger and complaints from civil society that the government would possibly have taken too long to react,” Tatayah said. The boat became immobilized for about two weeks before starting to flee.
There were no quick comments from Mauritius government officials.