In light of the MV Wakashio grounding and government’s decision to sink the front part of the vessel, Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Japan argued that this plan would risk biodiversity.
In fact, Happy Khambule, Greenpeace Africa Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager, stated:
Sinking this vessel would risk biodiversity and contaminate the ocean with large quantities of heavy metal toxins, threatening other areas as well, notably the French island of La Réunion. Mauritians had nothing to gain from the MV Wakashio crossing their waters and are now asked to pay the price of this disaster. More pollution further risks their tourist-based economy and fish-based food security.
What is more, MV Wakashio, which ran aground on the coral reef on Pointe d’esny off Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean is now being towed by two Maltese-flagged vessels, the Boka Summit and Boka Expedition.
Following the above, Ayako Sekine, Greenpeace Japan Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner noted:
By sinking the ship Nagashiki Shipping Co ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines are adopting a typical trick of the oil industry – burying their problems and expecting the world to move on. They can choose to do the right thing to reduce the damage to people and the planet at risk.
For the records, the bulk carrier spilled approximately 1.200 tonnes of fuel oil, harming corals, fish and other marine life, with scientists consider Wakashio grounding one of the country’s worst ecological disaster.
Dis Moi and Greenpeace Africa stand with the affected communities in Mauritius and expect the polluters to pay for this environmental catastrophe. This means ignoring the cheapest, fastest option and instead putting the ocean and the people first.
…as Vijay Naraidoo, co-director of Dis Moi, concluded.
