Fishermen and skippers tend to a makeshift oil extraction device at the Mahébourg waterfront in Mauritius on August 12, 2020, in order to prevent a further oil spill from the MV Wakashio vessel, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that had run aground at the beach in Bambous Virieux, southeast Mauritius. (Photo by – / AFP)
Salvage crews have successfully done the pumping of all the fuel from the tanks of a giant cargo ship that ran aground off Mauritus. This was said by the prime minister, preventing another massive oil spill into the pristine waters.
Further ecological disaster was prevented as the MV Wakashio, a Japanese-owned bulk carrier, threatens to break apart at any moment after more than two weeks stranded on a coral reef off the island nation.
“All the fuel has been pumped from the reservoirs,” said Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, adding that about 100 tonnes remained elsewhere on board the ship.”
It was on July 25 that the ship ran aground and began leaking oil into coral reefs, mangrove forests, and protected wetlands last week. This further resulted in a massive blow for the paradisaical island popular among honeymooners and other tourists.
“It was a race against the clock, and I salute the excellent work to prevent another oil spill,” said Jugnauth.
“The weather was calm and it helped the pumping exercise, it also prevented the breakup of the boat, which is inevitable.”
