Solomon Islands government authorities have accused a bulk carrier of deliberately dumping about 1,000 tonnes of oil into the sea off their coast, just two years after the state confronted a major environmental pollution in its waters.
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The Panama-flagged MV Quebec is accused of discharging heavy fuel oil into Graciosa Bay in Temotu province, while engaged in trade operations for a Chinese company in the area on 20 January, local media reported.
In particular, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) received a report from Lata Police Temotu Province of an oil spill with potential damage to the environment, according to Solomon Times.
In response, the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has deployed an oil spill experts team in Graciosa Bay on 5 February. An initial assessment of the spill indicated about 1,000 tonnes of HFO had been discharged.
In a statement to Guardian, the premier of Temotu, Clay Forau, said he believed ships regularly deliberately polluted Solomons Islands waters:
It’s obvious these ships go around breaking our laws on sea pollution all the time. The only difference is they got caught this time.
The incident follows an environmental disaster off Solomon Islands in 2019, when the bulk carrier MV Solomon Trader ran aground off Rennell island, causing an oil spill onto an ecologically sensitive reef and Unesco world heritage site.
Solomon Islands consists of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.
