Ship off Mauritius splits up, India sends assistance

NEWDELHI: India has sent a technical response team and more than 30 tonnes of equipment to Mauritius on board an Indian Air Force aircraft to help in efforts to contain a massive oil spill from bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which broke apart on Saturday after leaking hundreds of tonnes of fuel, the external affairs ministry said on Sunday. The split was caused by a crack in a cargo hold on its stern side, the ship’s operator Mitsui OSK Lines said.

NEWDELHI: India has sent a technical response team and more than 30 tonnes of equipment to Mauritius to help in efforts to contain a massive oil spill from a Japanese bulk carrier, which broke apart on Saturday after leaking hundreds of tonnes of fuel.

In response to a request from the government of Mauritius, the technical equipment and material was sent on board an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft to “supplement the country’s ongoing oil spill containment and salvage operations”, the external affairs ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

A 10-member technical response team, consisting of

Coast Guard personnel specially trained in oil spill containment measures, has been deployed to Mauritius to extend technical and operational assistance at the site, the statement added.

The specialised equipment sent by India includes ocean and river booms, disc skimmers, heliskimmers, power packs, blowers, salvage barge, oil absorbent graphene pads and other accessories. The equipment is specifically designed to contain oil slicks, skim oil from water, and assist in clean up and salvage operations.

The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef at Pointe d’Esny on July 25 and began leaking hundreds of tonnes of oil into a pristine lagoon last week.