Shipwrecked: A shock for Mauritius

The Japanese-owned ship, MV Wakashio, was on its way from China to Brazil when it ran aground on the reef at Pointe d’Esny, south of Mauritius on July 25, and began to leak tons of oil into the pristine Indian Ocean.
Mauritius is on the way to trade routes connecting Asian ports to Africa and Latin America. Vassen Kauppaymuthoo, an oceanographer and environmental engineer on the island, says more than 2,000 large cargo vessels sailed past Mauritius last month, damaging an ecosystem that is crucial to the nation’s resilience. “The reefs protect us from waves, and the seagrass belts and the mangrove play a critical role in absorbing carbon dioxide,” he said. With their roots covered in oil now, he said, “It’s a tragic story, which brings sorrow and anger.”
The bulk carrier had 200 tons of diesel and 3,800 tons of fuel oil — One Thousand of which had spilt into the sea. Nagashiki Shipping, the company that owns the vessel, said that more than 460 tons had been retrieved manually. However, according to the imagery of the satellite from August 6 to August 11 the oil spill rose to an estimated 10.4 square miles, rising by more than eight times after the ship started to leak. The company has said in a statement “We are fully aware of the responsibilities of the parties concerned and will respond in good faith to any damages in accordance with applicable law”.
Immediately after the accident, individuals, civil society organizations and environmental groups mobilized to save the mangrove forest and coral reefs that provide Mauritian waters with rich biodiversity. Thousands of volunteers pulled all-nights collecting plastic bottles and skimming oil into barrels, while salons donated hair and children gathered straw from the fields to help soak up oil. Mauritians abroad have initiated awareness-raising social media campaigns, and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been collected on fund-raising sites.
The spill could be catastrophic for Mauritius, whose lagoons, lush tropical jungles and mountains drew 1.3 million visitors in 2019. The country has stifled the spread of coronavirus locally, but the suspension of international flights has damaged its tourism-dependent economy. The spill is threatening biodiversity hot spots, including the Ile aux Aigrettes nature reserve and Blue Bay Marine Park, a renowned snorkelling and diving area where nearly 40 types of coral and more than 70 species of fish thrive.
The authorities have declared an “environmental emergency” and are collaborating with experts from France, Japan, India and the United Nations to deal with the spill. Meanwhile, a massive clean-up operation involving thousands of local volunteers was underway. But the crack inside the hull of the ship expanded earlier this week, according to ship operator Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, a Japanese company. Now after twenty days of the incident, the ship has split into two and the scientists say that it has caused a massive poisonous shock to the ecosystem.
It’s not clear how much oil was removed before Saturday. Earlier this week, the operator, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, reported that about 1,180 metric tons of oil had leaked from the vessel’s fuel tank — about 460 tons had been recovered manually from the sea and coast. According to the operator, the ship was carrying about 3,800 tons of Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil and 200 tons of diesel oil.
In interviews, many Mauritians blamed the authorities for being ill-prepared for such a disaster, although Mauritius has been the site of at least three shipwrecks in the last decade. During the days following the grounding of the Wakashio, the authorities installed just a few hundred meters of booms, environmental experts said, which was not enough to contain the spill.
Experts say it may take weeks, if not months or more, to see the full effects of the spill. “The toxic substances accumulate in the soil and can infect insects, reptiles and plants,” said Vikash Tatayah, the conservation director of the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation. “We might see less successful breeding in birds and reptiles, more plants may die,” he added.
The authorities have not estimated the financial cost of the spill. However as a country mainly relying on fishing and tourism, the Mauritius economy will face a huge impact of the incident. Also the environmental group Greenpeace has said that thousands of species were at risk, with likely “irreversible” damage to the environment.
By Jumana J.