Dutch salvage company Smit Salvage has been appointed to refloat a Japanese bulker that dramatically grounded on the holiday island of Mauritius over the weekend.
Anchor handling tugs have been dispatched by Smit from the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, and are shortly expected to reach the stricken 203,000-dwt Wakashio (built 2007), the salvor confirmed.
It is understood the owner's protection and indemnity insurer, Japan P&I Club, has signed a Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) agreement including special compensation P&I clause (Scopic) with Smit to refloat the vessel.
The Wakashio does not have any cargo onboard, which should help with the refloating operation. But there are some possible complications according to salvage experts.
There is an estimated 4,000 tonnes of low-sulphur fuel oil and diesel onboard the ship. There is concern from the authorities that pollution from the grounded Wakashio might reach the nearby Blue Bay Marine Park.
Oil pollution prevention equipment is on site and the hull has reportedly not been damaged, but authorities may request that fuel is removed from the ship before a refloating operation is attempted.
So far, only minor pollution has been reported.
Weather conditions are also deteriorating, adding to the difficulty of refloating the ship, which is in an exposed area.
The vessel was sailing from China to Tubarao, Brazil, when the accident happened. The cause of the grounding is under investigation.
However, local reports suggest that the ship had been warned by the local traffic control authorities that is was sailing too close to the island before it grounded.
None of the 20-member crew was injured in the incident.
The ship is owned by Japan’s Nagashiki Kisen, and previously operated under the commercial control of Nippon Steel Shipping, but its long-term charter has now expired and the vessel is operating on the spot market.
