General
Japanese ship company behind oil spill that led to environmental disaster in Mauritius caused by ‘human error’
The Japanese operator of a bulk carrier that struck a coral reef and caused an extensive oil spill off the coast of Mauritius has said the accident occurred after the ship shifted its course closer to shore than planned so its crewmembers could get mobile phone signals.
Key points:
- The ship ran aground in late July and began leaking oil on August 6
- Leaked fuel polluted protected wetlands and a wildlife sanctuary
- The captain and crewmembers were using their mobile phones while on duty
Mitsui OSK Lines said its investigation showed the accident was caused by human error, including inadequate nautical charts, navigation systems and risk awareness, and a lack of supervision and safety monitoring.
The company said the tanker’s nautical chart…
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