Oil spill in Mauritius: the shipowner promises 8 million euros

The Japanese owner of the ship that caused an oil leak on the coast of Mauritius promised on Friday to pay the equivalent of about eight million euros in compensation to help clean up.

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The Mitsui OSK Lines company said in a statement that it wants to "

pollution control

", which include projects to protect mangrove areas and corals as well as in place of a fund to restore the local environment.

The bulk carrier MV Wakashio struck a reef in Mauritius on July 25, and some of the 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil and 200 tonnes of diesel it was carrying subsequently spilled into the crystal clear waters of the island, which attracted many tourists before the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 1,000 tons of oil are said to have escaped from the ship, the rest having been pumped inside the hull before they spilled into the sea. The longer part of the wreckage, which was broken in two, was towed offshore and sunk to great depth.

But the rest of the ship, the stern surmounted by the superstructure, remained beached at the site of the sinking.

Like the owner, the shipowner, Nagashiki Shipping, apologized.

She pledged last month to respond "

" to requests for compensation, the Mauritian government having indicated its intention to seek compensation.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also said last week that Japan will continue to support clearance activities.

The investigation into the accident by the Mauritian authorities is still ongoing.

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The Japanese news agency Kyodo said at the end of August that the members of the crew would have brought the ship closer to the coast to receive mobile network in order to phone their families.

Quoting an anonymous judicial source, Kyodo had specified that a well-watered birthday party had been celebrated on board before the accident, but it was not certain that the sailors on watch at that time had participated.