MV WAKASHIO OIL SPILL- WHAT CAPTAIN HAS TO SAY ?
Abhineet Sharma
2nd Officer
COC Number: IF-33391
23 February 2021
MV WAKASHIO OIL SPILL-WHAT CAPTAIN HAS TO SAY ?
The MV Wakashio Oil Spill occurred offshore of Pointe d’espy South of Mauritius after the Japanese Bulk Carrier Wakashio ran aground on a Coral reef on 25 July 2020 at around 16:00 UTC.
The ship began to leak fuel oil in the following weeks and broke apart in mid August. Although much of the Oil onboard Wakashio was pumped out before she broke in half, an estimated 1000 tonnes of oil spilled into the ocean in what was called by some scientists the Worst Environmental Disaster ever in Mauritius. Two weeks after the incident the Mauritian government declared the incident a National Emergency.
SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Wakashio_oil_spill#/media/File:Mauritius_oil_spill_ESA22170164.jpeg
THE INCIDENT
Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on 25 July but did not immediately begin leaking oil. Oil began to leak from the ship on 6 August by which time Mauritius authorities were trying to control the spill and minimise its effects isolating environmentally sensitive areas of the coast while waiting for help from foreign countries to pump out an estimated 3890 Tons of oil remaining onboard.
By 10-Aug-2020 , About 1000 MT of fuel had spilled with estimates of the remaining oil onboard ranging from 2500 to 3000 MT.
High winds and 5 m waves halted cleanup efforts on 10 August.
Visible cracks in the hull of the ship led to worries that the ship might “Break in two” according to Mauritius.
Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said that 3000 T of Oil had been pumped out of the ship’s fuel reservoirs. Data from Finnish Iceye Satellites indicated the Spill had increased from 1.3 sq. mi on 06 August to 10 sq. mi on 11 August.
The ship broke up on 15 August 2020.
When there were still 166 Tons of fuel inside. Waves 4.5 Metres high hindered cleanup.
After she split, Wakashio’s Bow section was towed into the open ocean and scuttled on 24 August. Recovery operations continued around the stern section, which remained aground and on 31 August a tugboat working on the wreck sank after colliding with a barge in heavy weather killing at least three crew members.
THE INVESTIGATION
According to investigators who conducted interviews with crew members, the crew had been celebrating the birthday of a sailor onboard the ship at the time of the grounding had sailed near shore for a Wifi Signal.
However, Local Police denied reports that the ship had sailed close to land seeking a wifi signal saying that looking for a phone signal would not have required sailing so close to land.
Plus the Ship’s Vessel Operator, Mitsui OSK lines stated that their fleet had access to free and unlimited internet access.
The Ship then Failed to respond to warnings of the errant course.
The Ship’s Captain a 58-Year Old Indian National Named Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar and Chief Officer were arrested on 18 August on suspicion of negligence in operating the vessel.
WHAT CAPTAIN HAS TO SAY ??
The Captain of the ill-fated bulk carrier MV Wakashio told a Mauritius Court that he navigated the ship closer to land to allow his crew members to pick up cell phone service so they could connect with loved ones back home but said ultimately it was his Chief Officer who ran the ship aground back in July.
Captain Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar appeared for the third and final time before the Court of Investigation set up to investigate the accident where he testified that he decided to manoeuvre the ship close to land to pick up the cell phone signal as a gesture to the ship’s crew, who were working beyond the initial scope of their employment agreements. However, according to the Captain fault lies with the First Officer.
Captain Nandeshwar said that if Chief Officer Subodha Janendra Tilakaratna had followed his instructions, the ship would not have grounded at all because in the captain’s view the vessel’s course was altered bringing it within 1.5 nautical miles of the coast of Mauritius.
He said he did not intervene that night because the Chief Officer was an experienced sailor. He also pointed out that although the Chief Officer had consumed alcohol, he was not under influence on the night of the accident. The consumption of alcohol, he explained is allowed onboard under certain conditions.
THE TESTIMONY
Captain Nandeshwar pointed out that he had modified the course of the Ore Carrier to avoid a tropical depression and to pass as close as possible to Mauritius by heading for an artificial point on the French island of La Reunion. In doing so, crew members would be able to pick up cell signal to contact loved ones back home. The Captain noted that the crew was initially due for crew change on 19 January 2020 but due to COVID-19 restrictions their crew change had been cancelled.
ABOUT HIS CAREER
Captain Nandeshwar said he was promoted to Captain at the age of 30 well ahead of many of his peers and he stressed that he had commanded some 20 to 25 ships mostly tankers before taking the helm of Ore Carriers. He claimed he has never had any accidents and also confided that his wife is a private doctor and that he has 2 children.
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