The bow and midsection of a bulker stricken off Mauritius is in position to be controversially scuttled off the coast of Mauritius on final approval from the authorities.
TradeWinds understands the forward section of the 203,000-dwt Wakashio (built 2007) has been towed out 8 nautical miles (15 km) from the reef where it grounded. It is to be scuttled at the site.
The vessel's charterer, Mitsui OSK Lines, said: “The forward part of the hull has been towed to the designated position instructed by the Mauritius Authority, and the owner of the vessel, Nagashiki Shipping, is waiting for further instruction from the authority.”
The decision to scuttle is controversial because of the potential for further damage to the marine environment in the area.
Greenpeace said: "Sinking this vessel would risk biodiversity and contaminate the ocean with large quantities of heavy metal toxins, threatening other areas as well, notably the French island of La Reunion."
The environmental lobby group said that under the London Convention vessels should not be scuttled "if polluting content has not been removed to the maximum extent".
The Wakashio also follows the recent scuttling of the 300,000-dwt bulker Steller Banner (built 2016) off Brazil.
In 2013 the 8,000-teu MOL containership MOL Comfort (built 2008) also sank in the Indian Ocean while under tow after having suffered a catastrophic structural failure.
Plans are currently being discussed to dismantle the remaining stern section of the Wakashio which remains on the reef at Pointe d’Esny.
Tokyo-headquartered MOL said it had stepped up its efforts to mitigate the pollution caused by the disaster.
The operator said additional clean-up equipment including oil absorbents has been sent to Mauritius. The Japanese company is planning to dispatch an additional team in later August and said it will send further equipment.
MOL said: “We are doing everything possible to support the efforts of owner and manager, their appointed teams in mitigating the effects of the spill. MOL deplores any incident of oil pollution and continues to offer support to all involved in the response.”
In a separate development, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has complained about the arrest of the master and chief officer of the Wakashio.
The union, which represents 1.4m seafarers, said it is too early to point the finger of blame at the crew before an full investigation has been completed. Seafarers’ section head David Heindel said that some crew were forced to work beyond their contracted period because of the current pandemic and fatigue may have been a factor.
He said: “The tragedy of the Wakashio, its crew and the Mauritian people and environment is a reminder to us all of what can happen when tired and fatigued humans are expected to keep working indefinitely.
