The two beached trawlers are ready to be towed to safety in the Port Louis Harbour. However, in order to ensure that this operation goes smoothly, without any leaks, the towing has been postponed until next week due to the unstable tide and other meteorological conditions. The Salvage Team prefers to wait. However, the boats are secured and should not cause any harm to the environment in their current state. In the meantime, further lightering exercises are being carried out on the Maan Yu Feng 1 under the guidance of the Salvage Team to maximise the success of this towing operation.
Operations done and to be done
Approximately 20 tonnes of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) were extracted from the Maan Yu Feng 168 and approximately 23 tonnes from the Maan Yu Feng 01. The hold, where an additional and unlisted cargo of fuel oil, which was discovered by the inspectors of the Mauritius Ports Authority, was also emptied. This cargo is currently under investigation. The 80 tonnes of decomposing fish were also removed and the bags sent to the waste plant at Mare Chicose.
The two vessels to be towed are stable. It is the Maan Yu Feng 168 that will require more work as it is grounded on its left side, that is, port side. The vessel will need to be put back on its keel before being towed. Both trawlers are surrounded by approximately 300 metres of floating barriers as a pollution safety measure. According to the latest Pad Test, there were no oil leaks detected in these waters of Bain des Dames and Pointes aux Sables. As for the strong odours emanating from the boats and the hydrogen sulphate, the gas produced by the decomposition of the fish, the Salvage Team had a Mechanical Ventilation system installed in order to avoid any contamination of the team members assigned to the lightering and towing operations. An Oil Spill Response Team remains on call at this site.
Fishermen’s Union requirement
Despite the MPA’s continued claims that there have been no cases of oil spills in the waters, the Fishermen’s Union, through its president Judex Ramphul, reports that oil slicks have reached the shores of Baie du Tombeau, which it attributes to the currents flowing in that direction. The Fishermen’s Union is demanding an analysis of the water quality after the operations as well as compensation to the fishermen in these areas, who have been banned from operating within a one-kilometre radius of the site for more than ten days.
