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Mitsui OSK top guns meet Shipping Minister amid claims of unpaid Wakashio compensation

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Mitsui OSK top guns meet Shipping Minister amid claims of unpaid Wakashio compensation
Photo: GIS Mauritius

As criticisms continue to be rife against the Mauritian Government and owners of the MV Wakashio over inadequate compensation to skippers and fishermen after the oil spill, a delegation from MITSUI O.S.K Lines Ltd (MOL) reportedly met the Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, Sudheer Maudhoo, on February 18.

The meeting was reportedly held in the presence of the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Kawaguchi Shuichiro, in Port Louis. 

The delegation comprised the Managing Director from MOL (Mauritius) Ltd, Mr Yamashita Goro; the Project leader, MOL Corporate Planning Division, Mr Shimizu Akira; the Manager for Operation, Mitsui O.S.K Passenger Line Ltd, Mr Uchida Koichi; and the Executive Assistant, MOL (Mauritius) Ltd, Mr Damien Deruisseau.

The Managing Director of Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd, Mr Kris Lallsing, as well as staff from the Ministry were reportedly also present.

In a statement after the meeting, Minister Maudhoo said that as part of MOL’s actions towards the Wakashio incident, MOL is “committed, over the next three years, to assist Mauritius through the implementation of projects.”

In that context, he stated that MOL is planning a cruise trip by Mitsui O.S.K Passenger Line Ltd’s M/V NIPPON MARU tentatively scheduled for end of 2022. 

The luxury cruise ship, he indicated, will have onboard around 350 Japanese top class passengers aged 50 years and above and they will be in Mauritius for three to six days.

The seven-star vessel will leave from Singapore and will travel to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar and back to Singapore. 

The MOL-chartered bulk carrier, MV Wakashio ran aground off coast Pointe d’Esny on 25 July 2020, resulting in the worst ecological disaster in the history of the island, affecting the marine and natural environment, the community, and its industries.

MOL, as the party using the vessel under a charter contract with the ship owner, had declared it was committed to contribute to a swift recovery from the oil spill and restoration of the environment and community through specific support activities

However, 18 months later, about twenty skippers from the south-eastern coast demonstrated in front of Japanese Embassy in Ebène on 9 January 2022 over claims that they had not received adequate financial compensation after the grounding of the MV Wakashio.

Sources: GIS/other media

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The information and opinions expressed in our published works are those of authors/sources believed to be reliable. NewsMoris makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information expressed.