MOL’s understanding of and response to the Wakashio Incident

An MOL-chartered bulk carrier ran aground in the Republic of Mauritius, resulting in an oil spill that had a serious impact on the marine and natural environment, affecting the site, the community, and its industries.

MOL, as the party using the vessel under a charter contract with the shipowner, is committed to contributing to a swift recovery from the oil spill and restoration of the environment and community through specific support activities that meet local needs, such as allocation of personnel and provision of supplies and equipment for the collection of the leaked oil.

At the same time, MOL strives to disclose information on our responses and initiatives regarding the incident through this exclusive site.

MOL’s relief activities

(1) Activities of employees dispatched to the site

(updated on April 8, 2021)

[Distribution of food packs to families in need]

A resurgence of COVID-19 infections has made life more difficult for people in the region who had already faced difficult economic and social conditions since the first lockdown in March 2020, including fishermen (registered and non-registered) and boatmen who were also severely impacted by the oil spill.

On Tuesday, March 30, MOL (Mauritius) Ltd. decided to fund a project to distribute food to more than 60 families in the Mahebourg area during this critical lockdown period, in collaboration with Caritas Mauritius(*1) and Celero Ltd.(*2).

(*1) Caritas Mauritius: a Mauritius-based international non-government organization (NGO) that serves vulnerable citizens and works to assist those in need.

(*2) Celero Ltd.: an independent logistics group based in Mauritius and has been supporting MOL as a local agent after the incident.

Each family was provided with a food pack containing necessary supplies for two weeks including rice, lentils, cooking oil, canned food, milk, cereals, and biscuits as well as hygiene products, toothpaste, soap, toilet tissue, and sanitary pads.

With support from Celero Ltd., which provided transport assistance and three team members to help, MOL (Mauritius) Ltd. was able to visit and distribute food packs in economically distressed villages surrounding Mahebourg: Bambous Virieux, Grand Sable, St. Hubert, and St. Hilaire. Half of the food packs were also dedicated to extremely hard-hit areas such as Cite la Chaux, Cite Tole, and Titanic.

The oil spill incident in August 2020 occurred under the the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. MOL is committed to ongoing activities to support the lives of local people who are still subject to various restrictions.