The grounding of the MW Wakashio caused, on July 25, 2020, the worst oil spill ever on the coast of Mauritius. The captain and his mate were sentenced to 20 months in prison on Monday, December 27. “The court took into consideration the fact that the two defendants pleaded guilty and apologized,” said Judge Ida Dookhy Rambarrun.
The Japanese bulk carrier ran aground on a coral reef in the south-eastern part of Mauritius, releasing more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil into its crystal-clear waters. Indian captain Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar admitted during the hearing that he had been drinking at a party hosted on the ship. He was found guilty, along with his second Sri Lankan Hitihanillage Subhoda Janendra Tilakaratna, of “endangering the safety of navigation” by a court in Port Louis.
The captain had consumed alcohol “in moderation”
The MW Wakashio, under the Panamanian flag, was en route from Singapore to Brazil, with 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil and 200 tonnes of diesel on board, which quickly began to leak, but the majority of which could be pumped out. “A birthday party had taken place on board and I had consumed alcohol in moderation,” said the captain during his trial, adding that he had given instructions to approach Mauritian waters in order to capture the telephone network , to allow crew members to contact their families. “The sea was bad but the visibility was clear and it was safe to navigate. At one point, the vessel could not move and had touched the seabed. As I had had a few drinks, it didn’t seem useful to intervene and it didn’t occur to me that we were sailing so close, “he added.
This oil spill was the worst marine pollution in the history of the country which depends on its waters for its food security and for ecotourism, in an area which is among the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. The south-eastern coast of Mauritius has two classified sites: Blue Bay, known for its corals, and Pointe d’Esny, rich in mangroves, crucial ecosystems in the face of global warming. From the first days, the inhabitants mobilized, working tirelessly with makeshift resources, to contain the pollution. In the months that followed, thousands of people protested on the island, criticizing in particular the government’s handling of the oil spill.
