MV Wakashio Captain Sentenced To 20 Months Of Imprisonment For Mauritius Oil Spill

The captain of MV Wakashio, the vessel that ran into a coral reef, causing an extensive oil spillage has been sentenced to imprisonment for 20 months. The magistrate has said that the captain along with his second in command has been irresponsible. He added that they failed to serve as they ideally should while carrying out navigational duties.

The vessel’s captain, Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, confessed that he was moderately drunk at a birthday party that was being hosted on the ship before the MV Wakashio ran aground last year in July. He apologized to Mauritians for the extensive damage.

The first officer, Hitihanillage Subhoda Janendra Tilakaratna, has appealed for leniency to the court. He has reportedly stated that he had not met his family since he has been arrested.

Representation Image – Credits: Twitter | Karmagawa / @karmagawa

The ship chartered by Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd had run aground on a coral reef in Mauritius on 25 July last year. The vessel was loaded with fuel oil (3,800 tonnes) and diesel for engines. One of the oil tanks, loaded with almost 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil, ruptured when MV Wakashio, unfortunately, ran aground.

The oil that leaked has threatened the existence of endangered corals. The impact was massive on the lives of fish and other aquatic creatures. Many scientists call it to be the worst disaster in Mauritius. The ship’s operator and the owner was an enterprise named Nagashiki Shipping.

Experts from Japan collaborated with several local groups for more than six months to get rid of the oil lying in the Mahebourg Lagoon and also from waters near the wildlife sanctuary of Isle aux Aigrettes.

MV Wakashio Captain Sentenced To 20 Months Of Imprisonment For Mauritius Oil Spill appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News