IMO assisting in MV Wakashio oil spill response

Approximately 3,894 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel oil, 207 tonnes of diesel and 90 tonnes of lubricant oil were on board the MV Wakashio.

Aug 11, 2020 - 17:35
Aug 11, 2020 - 17:38
IMO assisting in MV Wakashio oil spill response

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has joined international efforts to assist the Government of Mauritius, following an oil leak from the bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground on 25 July off Pointe d’Esny natural area, south-eastern coast of Mauritius. 

IMO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Joint Environment Unit have jointly deployed an oil spill response expert. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and border closures in Mauritius, the expert is (11 August) awaiting onward travel via specially chartered UN flight from Nairobi, following COVID tests.    

The hull of the ship had expanded. Since this ship is unable to navigate by itself, it is moored to a tugboat so that it will not drift even if it is broken. 

Approximately 3,894 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel oil, 207 tonnes of diesel and 90 tonnes of lubricant oil were on board the MV Wakashio. 
By August 11, Local time, approximately 1,020 MT of VLSFO onboard had been pumped out and transferred onto small tankers.

Approximately 1,180 MT had leaked out from the vessel fuel tank, which an estimated 1,000MT has leaked outside of the vessel, and 460 MT is estimated to been manually recovered from sea and coast. About 1,600 MT of VLSFO and about 200 MT of DO remain on the ship, and transfer work will continue. An amount of oil leaked following severe weather conditions. 

The affected area is located in a very sensitive zone that includes the Blue Bay Marine Park, Ile aux Aigrettes, and the Ramsar sites. Satellite mapping support is being sought from UNOSAT, to provide an indication of the extent of the spill and to inform the response effort.  

Alongside IMO and OCHA, the United Nations development Program (UNDP) Mauritius and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) are also mobilising environmental and oil spill experts. A number of countries, including France and Japan, are also assisting Mauritius, which has activated its national oil spill contingency plan.   

IMO is supporting the Government of Mauritius by providing technical advice on oil spill response issues  and in the coordination of assistance. 

MOL, the Charterer, has dispatched 6 members from the company, who have tested negative for PCR, to the site today (11thAug) for the purpose of cooperating with the authorities, collecting information, preventing the spread of oil pollution, and supporting oil spill recovery.