Captain of ship that spilled oil arrested

Authorities in Mauritius have arrested the captain of the Japanese ship that ran aground on a coral reef and spilled 1,000 tons of oil on the Indian Ocean island’s protected coastline.

Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, captain of the MV Wakashio who is from India, was charged with “endangering safe navigation” and is in custody pending a bail hearing next week, police inspector Sivo Coothen said.

The ship’s first officer was also charged and is being held, he said.

The Wakashio ran aground a coral reef on July 25, and after being pounded by heavy waves for several days, the vessel cracked and started leaking oil on Aug. 6. The damaged ship spilled more than 1,000 tons of its cargo of 4,000 tons of fuel into the turquoise waters of the Mahebourg Lagoon, one of the island’s most pristine coastal areas.

Most of the remaining 3,000 tons of fuel was pumped off the ship before it split into two.