- The captain of the freighter “MK Wakashio”, which in July 2020 caused the worst oil spill in the history of the island of Mauritius, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.
- His deputy was also imprisoned for 20 months. Both had admitted their guilt.
- Both convicts were released from the remaining terms of 4 months’ imprisonment for good conduct and 16 months in pre-trial detention. According to the ship insurer Japan P&I, they will be able to return to their home countries shortly.
According to the judicial authorities in Port Louis, the Indian captain testified that he had “had a few glasses” before the shipwreck and therefore did not notice that the ship could be so close to the island.
A year and a half ago, the Japanese ship ran aground on a coral reef in the southeast of Mauritius while sailing from Singapore to Brazil. Around a thousand tons of heavy oil leaked into the crystal clear water.
Mauritius is dependent on its waters for the food of the population and for tourism. The island has some of the most beautiful coral reefs on earth, including the expert-known Blue Bay reef and the Pointe d’Esny with its mangroves. Thousands of Mauritius residents helped clean up the oil spill.
The Minister of Fisheries, Sudheer Maudhoo, announced on Sunday that several hundred workers in the fishing sector are to be paid the equivalent of 2,200 francs in compensation each.
Legend:
Mauritius is located off Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
SRF
The wreckage of the wreck finally broke in two parts. The greater part is now 15 kilometers off the coast of the island. The recovery of the stern, which is still stuck to the reef, had to be interrupted several times due to poor weather conditions.
Disastrous consequences of the oil spill off Mauritius
