Oil Spill Update: Captain arrested as Japan deploys second team to Mauritius

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Workers collect leaked oil at the beach in Riviere des Creoles on August 15, 2020, due to the oil leaked from vessel MV Wakashio, belonging to a Japanese company but Panamanian-flagged, that ran aground near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of south-east Mauritius. - A fresh streak of oil spilled on August 14, 2020, from a ship stranded on a reef in pristine waters off Mauritius, threatening further ecological devastation as demands mount for answers as to why the vessel had come so close to shore. (Photo by Fabien Dubessay / AFP)

Another team of Japanese experts have been deployed to Mauritius with special oil-absorbent materials to help clean the oil spill from a Japanese-Owned ship that spilt as much as 1000 tonnes of fuel across the Indian Ocean. The remaining 3000 tonnes of oil was pumped off the ship.

The 58-year-old captain, Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar has been arrested after charges with endangering safe navigation. He has now made an appearance at the District Court in Port Louis and has been held in custody until 25th August 2020.

The ship split in half over the weekend, the bow of the ship is currently being towed away from the reef, while the rear part is still stranded with at least 90 tonnes of fuel still on board.

Mauritius has disclosed plans to seek compensation from the owner and insurer of the ship as the spill amounts to an economic disaster for the Island which depends heavily on tourism. Nagashiki Shipping, the vessel owner, has also pledged to respond to compensation requests.

The spill occured really close to two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park Reserve of wetland international importance.