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Africa: Mauritius Oil Spill Highlights Importance of Maritime Laws - UN Trade Body
UN News, 20 August 2020
The devastating oil spill off the east coast of Mauritius has highlighted the need for global adoption of international legislation that govern the seas and protect small island… Read more »
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Mauritius: Officials Arrest Captain of Grounded Oil Tanker
RFI, 18 August 2020
Authorities in Mauritius arrested the captain of the Japanese-owned ship that ran aground off the pristine waters of the Mauritian coast last month, polluting the sea with tonnes… Read more »
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Mauritius: Oil Spill - Japan to Send Second Disaster Relief Team
RFI, 17 August 2020
Japan's government has said it would send a second disaster relief team to Mauritius to help with the oil spill from a Japanese ship that ran aground off the Indian Ocean island… Read more »
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Africa: Lessons for Continent From Devastating Mauritius Oil Spill
ISS, 17 August 2020
The shipwreck of the MV Wakashio has caused one of Mauritius's worst environmental catastrophes and its devastating impact is expected to last for decades. Over 1 000 tonnes of… Read more »
Mauritius Scrambles to Address Massive Oil Spill As Tanker Splits
Authorities in Mauritius arrested the captain of the Japanese-owned ship that ran aground off the pristine waters of the Mauritian coast last month, polluting the sea with tonnes of oil. "We arrested the captain and his second-in command today. They were taken to court on a provisionary charge. The investigation continues from tomorrow with the interrogation of other crew members," said spokesman Inspector Shiva Coothen. The boat hit a coral reef on 25 July and more than 1,000 tonnes of oil leaked out of the boat a week later, before splitting apart.
In this image, captured on 11 August by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, the MV Wakashio, visible in the bottom of the image, is stranded close to Pointe d’Esny, an important wetland area. The oil slick can be seen as a thin, black line surrounded by the bright turquoise colours of the Indian Ocean. Oil is visible near the boat, as well as other locations around the lagoon.
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Mauritius: Ship Leaking Tons of Oil Off Mauritius Splits in Two
DW, 15 August 2020
Bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which ran aground on July 25, has broken apart. The front part is reportedly being towed and will be sunk at least 1,000 kilometers off the Indian Ocean… Read more »
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Mauritius: Oil Spill in Mauritius May Thwart Years of Conservation Efforts
RFI, 14 August 2020
Conservationists in Mauritius are navigating unchartered territory as they struggle to assess the damage from the massive Wakashio oil spill in one of the island's most… Read more »
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Mauritius: Almost All Oil Removed From Damaged Japanese Ship, Govt Says
DW, 13 August 2020
Mauritius said almost all oil from a leaking ship off its coast has now been removed. The country will also seek compensation from the owners of the Japanese ship for causing… Read more »
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Mauritius: Govt Prepares for the Worst As Vessel At Centre of Oil Spill Disintegrates
RFI, 11 August 2020
The ship responsible for an oil spill in Mauritius is likely to break into two, worsening what is already an unmitigated ecological and economic disaster. Indigenous species are at… Read more »
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Mauritius: Govt Declares Environmental Emergency Over Oil Spill
DW, 7 August 2020
Mauritius has declared a "state of environmental emergency" and asked France for help after an oil spill from a Japanese-owned ship near vulnerable waters. Read more »
InFocus
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More than 500 people are gathering in Maputo this week to attend an international oceans conference hosted by the Mozambican government. The event aims to explore opportunities to ... Read more »
On 25 July 2020, the bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground in front of Pointe d'Esny, one of the most important tourist destinations on the island of Mauritius.This collage composed of two images acquired on 1 and 6 August 2020 by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows the bulk carrier stranded near the reef (on the left) and the oil spill (on the right).
