Longliner runs aground, leaks oil off Pointe-aux-Sables, Mauritius

Authorities in Mauritius have confirmed the occurrence of a grounding and oil spill incident involving a foreign-flagged fishing vessel northwest of the country’s main island on Sunday, March 7.

The vessel involved in the incident is the Chinese-flagged longliner Lu Rong Yuan Yu 588, which had a crew of 19 and 130 tonnes of fuel oil when it made bottom contact off Pointe-aux-Sables near the country’s capital of Port Louis.

The crew were safely evacuated from the vessel and have been placed under quarantine as part of the country’s Covid-19 protocol.

Sudheer Maudhoo, the country’s minister of fisheries and shipping, said containment booms have been placed around the longliner while efforts are continuing to pump out the fuel oil remaining in the vessel’s tanks.

Mr Maudhoo said the spill was “minor” but did not provide an estimate of the quantity.

The vessel will be removed from the area following completion of the debunkering operation, which is being carried out by the Mauritius Coast Guard and a local salvage company.