Mauritius oil spill disaster

A ship that ran aground off the island is leaking tonnes of oil into the ocean, threatening coral reefs and the island’s vital tourist economy


MV WAKASHIO
Type: Bulk Carrier
Built: 2007
Length/breadth: 300m/50m 
Registered: Panama
Owners: Okiyo Maritime Corporation and Nagashiki Shipping Co. Ltd, Japan
Route: China-Brazil


AFRICA
Madagascar 
Mauritius 
Indian Ocean


MAURITIUS (2019 data) 
GDP: $14.18bn 
Tourism: 23.8% of GDP 
Tourists: 1.41m 
Population: 1.27m*


Jul 25, Pointe d’Esny: Ship runs aground on coral reef

Aug 6: Breaks apart, spilling 900 tonnes of 3,600-tonne load of heavy bunker
fuel oil


Wakashio route
Speed: 11 knots (No sign of slowing before impact)

Most vessels pass 12 nautical miles from shore


Calodyne 
Gokoola
Port Louis
Moka
Quatre Bornes
Curepipe
Flic en Flac Beach
MAURITIUS
Black River Gorges National Park
Airport
Blue Bay
Indian Ocean

10km 6 miles


*2018 

Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera, BBC, Forbes, MarineTraffic 
Picture: AP
© GRAPHIC NEWS