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Stricken ship refloated after Solomons oil spill
WELLINGTON, May 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The ship at the centre of an
environmental disaster near World-Heritage listed waters in the Solomon
Islands was refloated Saturday after being stranded on a coral reef for more
than three months.
The MV Solomon Trader ran aground on February 5 while loading bauxite at
Rennell Island, about 240 kilometres (149 miles) south of the capital
Honiara.
The 225-metre (740-foot) ship was carrying more than 700 tonnes of heavy
fuel and leaked a huge amount of oil into the sea, sparking an international
effort to contain the spill.
“They have been trying to refloat the vessel since Thursday but because
of low tide they have not been able to, until today”, the chairman of the
Solomons National Disaster Council, Melchior Mataki, told AFP.
An oil slick more than six kilometres long has spread along the
shoreline, destroying the livelihoods of islanders who rely on waters in the
ecologically delicate region.
Rennell Island is the largest raised coral atoll in the world and
includes a UNESCO World Heritage site which extends kilometres out to sea.
Authorities have said the site was not affected by the spill, although
Mataki said a detailed environmental assessment will be undertaken now that
the vessel is out of the way.
“There is a preliminary report but the full report will be made known
once assessments and investigation findings are compiled properly”, he said,
adding the government would likely seek compensation for environmental
damage.
The Australian government had sent salvage experts to assist the response
and vowed to help the Solomons make sure those responsible for the spill are
held to account.
The Hong Kong-registered ship was chartered by Indonesian-based Bintan
Mining and was loaded with almost 11,000 tonnes of bauxite at the time of the
incident.
BSS/AFP/RY/1700 hrs