France sent teams and equipment to Mauritius on Saturday, in response to a request for help from the Prime Minister of Mauritius following the spill of oil from a stranded bulk carrier. "We are now deploying teams and equipment from Reunion Island," Emmanuel Macron tweeted.
“When biodiversity is in danger, there is an urgent need to act. France is there. Alongside the people of Mauritius, ”continued Emmanuel Macron, while the country's authorities on Thursday requested material and human assistance to fight against marine pollution caused by a ship stranded on a reef since the end of July on the south-eastern coast. from the island.
When biodiversity is in danger, there is an urgent need to act. France is there. Alongside the Mauritian people. You can count on our support dear @PKJugnauth. We are now deploying teams and equipment from Reunion Island. https://t.co/uxoNhAQWfS
- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 8, 2020"As of Saturday, a tactical military transport aircraft (Casa CN-235) carrying equipment and equipment for combating pollution will thus make two rotations to Mauritius," said the prefecture of the defense and security zone of the south of the Indian Ocean in a press release. A liaison officer from the national navy and the correspondent for the fight against maritime oil pollution (Polmar) from Reunion Island will also be present on board, in order to provide their technical and operational expertise to the Mauritian authorities. "
"This tactical aircraft will transport Polmar equipment, including coastal dams," continued the prefecture, specifying that "the overseas support and assistance building Champlain of the French Navy transporting additional equipment (including several types of recuperators as well as absorbent and offshore dams) will also set sail this Saturday in order to quickly reach Mauritius ”. "The French authorities remain attentive to developments in the situation and will support the Mauritian government if it so requests," the prefecture further indicated.
The bulk carrier, owned by a Japanese shipowner but flying the Panamanian flag, was carrying 200 tons of diesel and 3,800 tons of heavy oil, according to local press. Its crew was evacuated.
It was stranded on Esny Point, a Ramsar classified wetland, like the nearby Blue Bay Marine Park and also threatened. These two sites have been protected by anti-pollution systems, said the Mauritian Ministry of the Environment. "We are in a situation of environmental crisis", admitted at a press conference the minister, Kavy Ramano.
World
Mauritius: Oil spills from a stranded boat since the end of July
Planet
Erika: Twenty years later, how do we organize ourselves to avoid oil spills in the Mediterranean?
- Emmanuel Macron
- Oil spill
- Ocean
- Mauritius
- Biodiversity
- Planet