After contacting aerial assessments on the Solomon Trader, AMSA confirmed that the oil spill has started to disperse across the surrounding sea and shoreline. The oil expands five to six kilometres across the shore and is moving towards the East Rennell world heritage site. It also added that there is a high risk that the rest of HFO on the vessel, which is estimated to be more than 600 tonnes, will be released into the surrounding area.
The MV Solomon Trader was loading bauxite when due to rough seas, it ran aground at Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, on 4 February. The East Rennell world heritage site is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. Since 2013 the site has been on a UNESCO danger list because of logging and overfishing.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
As of now, over 80 tonnes of oil has spilled from the bulker Solomon Trader. The incident is already considered an environmental disaster, as well as the worst man-made natural disaster ever to hit the Solomon Islands.
Commenting on the disaster, Roderick Brazier, High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, mentioned that Australia is very concerned. The country is currently exploring all options to help the Solomon Islands Government to hold the responsible company, owners and insurers to account.
The Solomon Islands have assigned responsibility to salvage the vessel and mitigate the environmental impact of this incident rests with the commercial entities involved. However, Australia noted that it is disappointed by the slow response of these companies, and their lack of adequate communications with and responsiveness to the Solomon Islands government.
As for Australia, it will continue to provide its help to the Solomon Islands government’s efforts to make sure that the commercial parties responsible for this incident take action.
We expect companies operating in our region to meet international standards and take seriously their environmental obligations
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
