The Mauritius government said it will seek compensation from the owner of a Japanese ship that spilled oil after it ran aground off the Indian Ocean island country in July.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 14, the government said that the oil spill caused by the Panamanian-flagged ship, Wakashio, has an adverse economic, social, and environmental impact on its people and environment.
The government asked its nationals who have sustained losses or damage caused by the oil spill to submit their claims.
Speaking to Japan’s Kyodo News, the owner of the Nagashiki Shipping Company, the firm that owns the vessel, said it will deal in good faith with the Mauritius government.
The ship has already broken into two with its front part set to be towed offshore.
The operator of the ship said that more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil leaked from the vessel into the pristine waters, with portions reaching the country’s shores.
Mauritius said that the removal of oil from the ship is almost complete but media reports indicated that the remaining fuel spread out into the Indian Ocean after the freighter broke into two.
The ship ran aground near Pointe d’Esny, an area designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The ship was carrying a total of some 3,800 tons of fuel oil and 200 tons of diesel when it ran aground on July 25.
Eleven days later, Mauritius declared a state of environmental emergency over the fuel leakage.
