Off Mauritius, the mobilization continues to prevent the ecological disaster

A race against time to avoid ecological catastrophe. The response teams in Mauritius mobilized on Monday August 10 to prevent a new oil leak in its paradisiacal waters, the boat stranded with nearly 2,000 tonnes of fuel on board threatening at any time of break.

The bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which was carrying 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil and 200 tonnes of diesel, struck a reef at Pointe d'Esny on July 25. A crack in the hull led to an oil leak that soiled coral reefs, lagoons and mangroves. An unprecedented environmental disaster for this island in the Indian Ocean.

See also >> In pictures: Mauritius, paradise with crystal clear waters, threatened by an oil spill

Located on the south-eastern coast of the island, Pointe d'Esny is an ecological gem known for its internationally classified conservation sites, turquoise waters and protected wetlands. More than 1,000 of the 4,000 tonnes of fuel carried by the MV Wakashio have already spilled at sea, according to Akihiko Ono, vice president of Mitsui OSK Lines, the Japanese company that operated the ship.

Helicopters brought some of the pumped fuel to the coast on Monday, but efforts were initially hampered by rough seas and strong winds. The weather conditions, which brought the oil slick spilled by the bulk carrier closer to the coast, improved, however, allowing a barge to approach the ship, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced.

"We were thus able to pump 500 metric tonnes. This means that there are still 1,959 metric tonnes of fuel oil in the ship," the Prime Minister explained at a press conference.

Buoys were made using leaves of sugar cane, plastic bottles and hair that residents voluntarily cut off in an attempt to stem the oil spill.

"Hair absorbs oil, not water," said Tello, founder of the Mauritius Conscious ecotourism agency, interviewed by Reuters.

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"The bulk carrier does not have much time in front of him"

Authorities recognized that the boat was in danger of breaking. "We are at an advanced stage of the fracking process. The bulk carrier does not have much time ahead," said a scientist participating in the rescue, on condition of anonymity. Divers spotted new cracks in the hull of the boat and a loud crackling sound was heard from the shore, where a major clean-up was underway.

Nearly 3.6 kilometers of hemp and fabric floating dams have been braided, largely by thousands of volunteers, in an attempt to contain the slick.

Japan on Monday dispatched a six-member team, including the coastguard, to help the Mauritian authorities. France sent more than 20 tonnes of equipment, including 1,300 meters of floating booms, pumping and protection equipment, as well as around ten experts by plane and boat from Réunion. About 200 kilometers away, the French island is not threatened, the French government said.

A spokesman for Mitsui OSK Lines also indicated that the company would send a team of experts on Tuesday as soon as they tested negative for Covid-19.

"Deep apologies"                  

Japanese company Nagashiki Shipping, owner of the boat, on Monday presented its "deep apologies to the people of Mauritius" in a statement and pledged to do its "best to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of pollution".

The police were to question the captain and crew of MV Wakashio. She seized, Sunday, the navigation reports and the recordings of the boat's communications. Pressure is mounting on Pravind Jugnauth's government to explain why nothing seems to have been done between the time the boat ran aground and the time the leak was noted.

This oil spill is a blow to Mauritian tourism, already strongly affected by the new coronavirus pandemic. The island has no active cases of Covid-19 and has not experienced a new infection for several weeks, but its borders remain closed.

With AFP and Reuters

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