Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), charterer of the bulk carrier which grounded on Mauritius causing a major pollution incident, has extended its support package to include the country's fishing industry.
MOL said its aid package is intended to help Nagashiki Shipping, owner of the 203,000-dwt Wakashio (built 2007), in its response to the casualty.
Nagashiki Shipping has direct liability for the damage caused by the pollution but does not have MOL’s financial resources or capacity to respond to an incident of this scale.
From today MOL has set up the Mauritius Environmental and Social Contribution Team to help coordinate cleanup and support operations for the local community from Tokyo.
MOL said: “The new team will focus on arranging logistics of necessary equipment for oil spill recovery and removal work.
"On a longer term, the team will seek for plans to restore the environment and contribute to the local community in Mauritius by coordinating with experts who have knowledge about the natural environment and its conservation activities.”
MOL will set up the Mauritius Representative Office in October as a liaison point with the Mauritian authorities and local community.
So far MOL targeted its assistance at cleanup and pollution control measures. However, it is now extending assistance to help the local fishing community.
It has sent a refrigerated cargo units to store seafood for shipment and said it will start to assess future requirements of the local community.
The container is due to arrive later this month.
MOL’s proactive response also comes amid concerns that Mauritius may only be entitled to limited compensation from Wakashio’s insurer, the Japan P&I Club, because of international laws which limit the financial liability of shipowners in pollution incidents.
The limitation of liability covers oil pollution and cleanup operations as well as third party liability claims, which in this case are likely to come from the local fishing and tourism industry.
