PORT LOUIS, 19 February 2021 – Work is underway in the dismantling of a huge oil tanker ship which ran aground last July on the reefs of Pointe-d’Esny off the coast of Mauritius.
The Japanese vessel was carrying nearly 4,000 tons of oil at the time of the accident, described as one of the worst ecological disasters in the Indian Ocean nation.
Mauritius Oil Spill An Environmental Disaster – Photo UNCTAD
Coast Contaminated – Photo gCaptain
After the accident, which occurred on 25 July 2020, the vessel later broke into two.
The bow was scuttled while the stern remained on the coral reefs, according to officials in the capital, Port Louis.
At least 17 dead dolphins were found on the coast of Mauritius after the bow was sunk in high seas
Mauritius Seeks Compensation for Ship Wreck – BusinessLIVE
Mauritius Ship Wreck and Oil Spill – The US Sun
The plan for dismantling the wreck of the MV Wakashio includes recycling parts of the 7,500-tonne stern of the Japanese vessel.
The dismantling is expected to take between 25 to 30 days, according to experts hired for the operation who have been deployed on three tugs and a Chinese barge.
Eyewitnesses in Port Louis say many trucks have been mobilized to truck away the parts of the stern that will be cut up in preparation for recycling.
