Japanese cargo ship ran aground off the island nation of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, causing a spill of heavy oil used for fuel. There are fears that the precious ecosystem will be destroyed. Every possible step must be taken to prevent the spread of the pollution.
The cargo ship is owned by Nagashiki Shipping Co. of Okayama Prefecture and chartered by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. When it ran aground en route from China to Brazil, more than 1,000 tons of heavy oil leaked from the ship's fuel tanks and washed ashore on the coast of Mauritius.
The Indian captain of the cargo ship and one of the crew members were arrested on suspicion of violating safety navigation requirements. The circumstances in which it ran aground are unclear. An investigation into the cause of the incident is needed to prevent a recurrence.
Mauritius is rich in coral reefs and mangrove forests, and is said to be a "treasure trove of biodiversity." The heavy oil has reached nature reserve areas that are home to rare plants and animals. The pollution could possibly affect the surrounding ecosystems for decades.
The damage to the economy is also immeasurable. Tourism is a major industry in Mauritius, employing 20% of the total workforce. Last year, there were 1.38 million tourist, exceeding the nation's total population of 1.26 million. The recovery in tourism will be slowed further if the pollution worsens following the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Mauritius has declared a "state of environmental emergency." All efforts must be made to recover the spilled heavy oil to minimize the damage.
The oil has entered the mangrove forests, which are difficult to access from both land and sea, and recovery operations are proving difficult. The French government, which is supporting the recovery, said it is expected to take at least 10 months to complete the work.
The Japanese government has dispatched to the area a Japan Disaster Relief Team consisting of experts on oil processing and the marine environment. The team will provide oil absorbent materials produced with Japanese technology. The team needs to work in cooperation with experts from other countries and local volunteers.
Compensation for the damage caused by the accident is also an important issue. Mauritius must not unilaterally bear the burden of the accident.
In principle, the owner of a ship should be responsible for any pollution caused by fuel oil on board. However, the amount of compensation is capped according to the total tonnage of the vessel. In this case, the amount of compensation appears to be around 2 billion yen, but that may not be enough to cover the actual damage.
In 1997, a Russian-registered tanker, the Nakhodka, ran aground off the coast of Fukui Prefecture, causing a heavy oil spill that caused damage of 26 billion yen.
Japan and other countries concerned should consider providing medium- to long-term assistance to help Mauritius protect its environment and restore its tourism industry.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Aug. 24, 2020
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
