Workers race to stop tanker from leaking tons more oil into Indian Ocean

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa —  In a race against tides and time, workers pumped tons of fuel Tuesday from a Japanese bulk carrier ship grounded in the shallow waters of Mauritius to try to prevent a renewed oil spill from further fouling the island’s eastern lagoons and shore.

The Japanese ship, MV Wakashio, ran aground on a coral reef about a mile off Mauritius on July 25, and prolonged pounding by heavy surf caused the vessel to crack about two weeks later. It spilled an estimated 1,000 tons of oil — about a quarter of the ship’s total cargo — into the Indian Ocean, polluting the island’s once pristine coastline.

Although the oil leak was stopped, the ship’s hull was continuing to crack, prompting fears that the remaining fuel would gush into the sea.

By Tuesday, about 1,000 tons of the fuel had been pumped out of the stranded ship into small tankers nearby, according to a statement from the Wakashio’s owner, Nagashiki Shipping. About 1,800 tons of fuel remained on the ship by midday, and with efforts continuing, some experts expressed hope that all the fuel could be emptied from the ship before it breaks up.

“The situation is very tight. The pumping is continuing nonstop,” said Sunil Dowarkasing, an environmental consultant and former member of parliament who was at the scene. “If all the oil can be successfully removed from the ship, that would prevent any increase in the destruction, which is already an environmental disaster.”

The ship’s owners confirmed that the cracks inside the ship’s hull had expanded. “The situation is being continuously monitored,” the owners said in a statement. “Since this ship is unable to navigate by itself, a tow connection has been established between a tug and the Wakashio in order to secure the vessel so that it will not drift.”

Of the 1,000 tons of oil that seeped from the ship, about 460 tons had been scooped out of the ocean, said the statement.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said his government was working with the ship’s owners to try to prevent any further spillage. He thanked the thousands of volunteers working to contain the spread of the oil and to begin cleaning the shores.

A team of French experts is assisting the efforts. France sent a navy ship, military aircraft and technical advisors after Mauritius appealed for international help Friday.

The ship ran aground July 25, but work to remove the oil it carried only began last week when the hull cracked and started emptying the fuel into the sea, according to Dowarkasing.

Jugnauth’s government is under pressure to explain why it did not take immediate action to avert the environmental disaster. Jugnauth has declared the oil spill a national emergency, but some residents say he acted too late.

The opposition and activists are calling for the resignation of the environment and fisheries ministers.