Mauritius scrambles to counter oil spill from grounded ship

JOHANNESBURG — Anxious residents of the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius stuffed fabric sacks with sugar cane leaves Saturday to create makeshift oil spill barriers as tons of fuel leaking from a grounded ship put endangered wildlife in further peril. “Why that ship has been sitting for long on that coral reef and nothing being done.” This is the country’s first oil spill, he said, adding that perhaps no one expected the ship to break apart. Bad weather has made it impossible to act, and “I worry what could happen Sunday when the weather deteriorates.” Heavy winds are expected to push the oil slick even farther along the mainland’s shore. The ship’s owners are listed as the Japanese companies Okiyo Maritime Corporation and Nagashiki Shipping Co. Ltd. A statement by the Nagashiki Shipping Co. Ltd. said “due to the bad weather and constant pounding over the past few days, the starboard side bunker tank of the vessel has been breached and an amount of fuel oil has escaped into the sea.” It added: “Nagashiki Shipping takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously and will take every effort with partner agencies and contractors to protect the marine environment and prevent further pollution.” The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society and other local groups warned that the cleanup could take much longer than expected.