A disastrous oil spill could occur in Solomon Islands area, after the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier ‘Solomon Trader’ ran aground on a reef on the remote island of Rennell, south of the capital Honiara.
The 225 meter-long ship grounded last week after she attempted to collect bauxite from a nearby mine site. Now the ship’s engine room is already filling with water, according to local media.
Authorities in Solomon Islands are working to prevent the oil spill, but heavy weather conditions impede the salvage operations.
The location of the grounding is a marine-protected area which creates further concerns for the impact on the reef.
Jonah Mitau, the acting Director of the Solomon Islands Maritime Administration, told ABC news the biggest worry is the threat of oil leaking from the vessel:
If the weather continues to deteriorate, then we will be having an oil spill situation. We do not have the equipment to contain such a situation. We are trying to get the ship owner and agent to organise themselves,
…he was quoted as saying.
Authorities say the owner of the ship will attempt to use tug boats to pull the ship off the reef, once the weather improves.
