The count for the day of Wednesday 02 March is 25 tonnes of fuel oil pumped out. At the last count there are still 25 to 30 tonnes of Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to be extracted from the two Mann Yu Feng 01 and Mann Yu Feng 168. 15.9 tonnes of fish were also extracted on this day. According to the Mauritius Ports Authority’s statement issued on Wednesday, no fuel spill was detected at the end of the operations in the evening.
The operations of Wednesday 02
The salvage operation was carried out daily until early evening, as well as the lightening of the cargo of the two fishing vessels. On this day the Salvage Team was able to remove exactly 28,610 litres, 19,325 litres plus 9,285 litres of MGO in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) by the Police Helicopter Squadron to trucks under police supervision. As well as the lightening operation to ensure a perfect tow, the reefer trucks collected a total of 53 bags totalling 15.9 tonnes, specifically 32 bags of FV Mann Yu Feng No 1 and 21 bags of FV Mann Yu Feng No 168. The cargo of fish, that is already good to be dumped, is currently estimated at 86 tonnes and the exact total is yet to be determined. All the polluting residues from the two vessels that were brought ashore and kept there will be removed on Thursday 03. Polygreen will be assisted by the Solid Waste Division in this disposal operation. All parties concerned wish to reassure those following complaints of foul odours reported at Pointes aux Sables, the National Environmental Laboratory (NEL) and the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services (MFRS), carried out an air quality monitoring exercise on 02 March and no presence of ammonia and no presence of hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide were detected at Pointes aux Sables and other sites.
Oil leaks – None to declare
Rumours following the broadcasting of a video on Facebook in the morning, indicating the formation of an oil slick, have been denied. The Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) issued a statement saying that an ʹabsorbent pad testʹ was conducted at these sites and revealed the contrary “No oil was detected. The National Coast Guard and Police Helicopter Squadron have not identified any presence of oil leakage at sea. As of 1 March 2022, 4525 litres of MGO have been pumped from the FV Maan Yu Feng 01 and 10, 415 litres from the FV Maan Yu Feng 168,” the statement said. The Mann Yu Feng 01 and Mann Yu Feng 168 remain packed with 300 metres of booms to prevent any oil leakage. The two fishing boats, once emptied and towed, will be sent to the Tailor Smith shipyard. In addition, the Salvage Team reports that the three dogs recovered were euthanised. Their health had deteriorated and they had become too aggressive due to the trauma of the accident and abandonment.
