# Giant bulker Wakashio aground on reef off Mauritius **URL:** \ **Category:** Marine Incidents\ **Created:** [July 27, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171 "2020-07-27T15:40:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![spork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@spork](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/spork)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/21 "2020-08-09T22:26:46Z")
A lot more stories in the world media about this incident today. > **[Mauritians race to contain oil spill swamping island's coral reefs](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8609495/Mauritians-race-contain-catastrophic-oil-spill-swamping-islands-pristine-beaches-coral-reefs.html)** > > Volunteers in Mauritius line the beaches in a desperate attempt to hold back the oily tide after an oil tanker ran aground on July 25. Aerial images show the enormous scale of the disaster. From this photo it looks like they have lots of one ton water tanks on the deck, they must be filling them with bunkers from intact tanks and flying them off by helicopter. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/8/6/868ad9b2e5f283b6e2eb2dacfaac3e8b5ac8f22b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 10:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/22 "2020-08-10T10:02:24Z")
From Splash 24/7 today: > **[Stricken bulk carrier lying on reef off Mauritius at risk of splitting in two...](https://splash247.com/stricken-bulk-carrier-lying-on-reef-off-mauritius-at-risk-of-splitting-in-two/)** > > Locals have spent the past days fabricating their own oil booms made out straw, clothing, plastic bottles and dried sugar cane leaves and yet the oil continues to flow from the bulk carrier around the delicate, pristine shorelines of south and... The sound heard on the last video is telling the story more than words, (Even pictures) ---
**Author:** ![spork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@spork](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/spork)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/23 "2020-08-10T11:26:21Z")
There are lots of interesting videos on that L’express youtube channel, they seem to be adding videos regularly. > **[l'express](https://www.youtube.com/c/lexpressmu/videos)** > > L'actualité à l'île Maurice vue en images. Retrouvez, sur cette chaîne, des événements politiques, culturels et sportifs. Egalement des reportages sur des ph... ---
**Author:** ![Binbag\_the\_Saylore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Binbag\_the\_Saylore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Binbag_the_Saylore)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/24 "2020-08-10T16:45:27Z")
Good article from Forbes (via Twitter) > **[How Satellites Tracked The Fateful Journey Of The Ship That Led To ...](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/08/09/how-satellites-traced-the-fateful-journey-of-the-ship-that-led-to--mauritius-worst-oil-spill-disaster/amp/?__twitter_impression=true)** > > Satellites tracked the final hours of the bulk carrier that ran aground on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, which is rapidly unraveling into an ecological disaster. Here is what we have learnt. Shows heading of 243 - which is a single course joinig Mauritius, Réunion, S.Africa. A wee bit of XTE, and one of them was going to get it anyway! ---
**Author:** ![spork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@spork](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/spork)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 10:19am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/25 "2020-08-11T10:19:45Z")
Interesting homemade device to recover the oil: [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/0/e/0e46774671a72d42c68b598ace6f58bd2f1c569a.jpeg "Naufrage du Wakashio : ils fabriquent un écrémeur d’huile…") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsWi-MmJXZk) ---
**Author:** ![Urs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/958977/32.png) [@Urs](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Urs)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/26 "2020-08-11T12:18:03Z")
Looking at the latest photos, the ‘Wakashio’ has already broken her back. The aft part unto the first cargo hold lies low in the water but nearly even, while the cargo part rises to the out of water bow. Only the deck and cargo hold structures are holding her together. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/27 "2020-08-11T14:27:29Z")
A tug is already hooked up on the bow in case it breaks loos and drifts off. ---
**Author:** ![Dutchie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchie/32/170_2.png) [@Dutchie](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Dutchie)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/28 "2020-08-11T14:53:50Z")
![IMG_6310](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/d/1/d161735db241c57342e3f753c2c92163f4596333.jpeg) See the video. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/2/7/273a424368bcfc2fb1399db2db5d43a32814bb9a.jpeg "La ‘fissure’ du MV Wakashio vue de prés") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrnnc4AsEec) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/quimby/32/3448_2.png) [@Quimby](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/29 "2020-08-11T19:41:21Z")
> [@Binbag\_the\_Saylore](#): > > Good article from Forbes (via Twitter) > > [https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/08/09/how-satellites-traced-the-fateful-journey-of-the-ship-that-led-to--mauritius-worst-oil-spill-disaster/amp/?\_\_twitter\_impression=true](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/08/09/how-satellites-traced-the-fateful-journey-of-the-ship-that-led-to--mauritius-worst-oil-spill-disaster/amp/?__twitter_impression=true) > > Shows heading of 243 - which is a single course joinig Mauritius, Réunion, S.Africa. A wee bit of XTE, and one of them was going to get it anyway! One article says that the Coast Guard couldn’t hail the ship. Another I read said they were able to reach the Master a few minutes prior to grounding and he assured them he was in no danger of grounding. ([Giant bulk carrier runs aground on reef off Mauritius - Splash247](https://splash247.com/giant-bulk-carrier-runs-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/)) Possibly another gps DR mode scenario such as the Royal Majesty incident off Nantucket I.? ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/30 "2020-08-11T20:16:39Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Possibly another gps DR mode scenario such as the Royal Majesty incident off Nantucket I.? Could be a lot of things but the ECDIS upgrade of that error is my guess. ECDIS track-line error and no “route check” done. Also possibly contour setting were wrong. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/31 "2020-08-11T20:18:58Z")
Looking out the window may have helped. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/32 "2020-08-18T11:16:07Z")
Split this topic on August 18, 2020, 11:16am UTC 7 posts were split to a new topic: [Old time Radars](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/old-time-radars/56399) ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/33 "2020-08-11T20:30:48Z")
Aground at 1600 UTC, would have been about 2 hrs after sunset. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/34 "2020-08-11T21:26:06Z")
So, 22 or so miles away can’t see land? And in that 22 miles after sunset and making way cannot see the lights on the beach? Not looking out the window and ignoring radio calls warning them off doesn’t make that bridge team very credible. And yes, as bug relayed, going out on the wing as you were nearing the coast you may have picked up sounds/waves on the beach that weren’t apparent while underway at sea. ---
**Author:** ![ExMariner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@ExMariner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ExMariner)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/35 "2020-08-12T19:27:07Z")
It seems that the ship was at least a few hundred miles off course to the north. Any handheld GPS device would have shown the position coordinates that didn’t make sense on that voyage. It is hard to think of an explanation for the vessel to be in that location. Ships of that size don’t call into Mauritius for anything. There is only one fringe possibility that comes to mind- Their weather routing service may have recommended this ‘oddly original’ course for getting some boost from the currents. In my time, we would wholly ignore the classroom advice given by these services, other than to train your Chief Officer in Master’s ultimate responsibilities, that of making the best decisions to ensure the safety of the ship and protecting the environment. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/36 "2020-08-12T21:39:51Z")
The ship was en route China to Brazil via Cape of Good Hope. ![Singapore_C oGH](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/1/2/1262672ca1cceb8fa8ec865c163ee7f3ce48c1cd.png) ---
**Author:** ![Hogsnort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/37 "2020-08-13T03:28:41Z")
Given the navigational expertise demonstrated I’m still wondering how the hell they made it through Singapore Strait. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 10:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/38 "2020-08-13T10:36:39Z")
> **[Panama Ship Registry Addresses Wakashio Grounding in Mauritius](https://gcaptain.com/panama-ship-registry-deeply-regrets-wakashio-grounding-in-mauritius/)** > > The Panama Ship Registry said it “deeply regrets” the grounding of the Japanese-owned and Panamanian-registered MV Wakashio in Mauritius and subsequent oil spill. A statement from the Panama Maritime Authority... > “On 14 July 2020, the bulk carrier sailed from Singapore (Offshore Terminal) to Tubarao, Brazil. Everything went smoothly until July 25, when the ship faced adverse weather conditions near the coast of Mauritius. **It was then, necessary to perform various maneuvers to change course due to the state of the sea.** All maneuvers were supervised by the captain and first officer of the ship who were aware of the situation and weather conditions; At 19:25hrs of the same day, while on the bridge, the captain, the first officer and the chief engineer noticed that the ship stopped moving and that it was stranded, in a latitude position: 20°26.6S and longitude: 057°44.6E, notifying the parties concerned (flag of the ship, ship operators and local authorities),” the statement added. ![Track_MV_Wakashio.PNG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/d/1/d17d80a7c657d754c9dd247c75d7bedc17209d8b.jpeg) ![Track_MV_Wakashio_2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/1/b/1b19c108424e95951287faba5bb07461f66c06a9.png) ![Track_MV_Wakashio_3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/d/2/d23f9cc15e59901d2ca985525fc144a4bf5a4024.png) ---
**Author:** ![spork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@spork](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/spork)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/39 "2020-08-13T11:09:03Z")
Hmm… that’s strange, as you’ve highlighted the satellite data shows it hadn’t changed course for days before. I don’t recall reading anything about unusual weather conditions before either. Sometimes Captains on ships that don’t have internet plot a course close to land so they can briefly get phone signal and receive messages, perhaps that might have been a factor. It will be interesting if they have a audio VDR recording of events leading up to the incident. I’ve heard some companies have video cameras on the bridge, maybe they will become more prevalent to ensure people are keeping a proper watch. With all the technology available today it’s hard to understand how this could happen, just speculating maybe they were approaching a way-point and the bridge watch-keeper fell asleep and the BNWAS was switched off. It was a Saturday evening, maybe they were having a barbecue on the bridge wing and the watch-keeper wasn’t paying attention. Presuming they were doing 4 on 8 off whoever came on watch at 1600 should have checked the chart for any navigational features they might come across in the next 4 hours, so this seems to have been extremely careless to say the least. Even in the open sea you can come across the occasional ODAS buoy. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171/40 "2020-08-13T12:22:33Z")
From Danish maritime publication Søfart: > **[Indisk kaptajn på 'Wakashio' var inden for normal kontraktlængde](https://www.soefart.dk/article/view/730366/indisk_kaptajn_pa_wakashio_var_inden_for_normal_kontraktlaengde)** > > Grundstødningen af det 299,5 meter lange capesize-skib 'Wakashio' på et koralrev ved Mauritius skete i en tid, hvor adskillige besætningsmedlemmer verden over sejler langt efter, at deres kontrakter er udløbet. > [@](#): > > From several fronts, there have been repeated warnings that fatigue and dissatisfaction on board merchant ships risk leading to errors with serious consequences. Although the grounding of ‘Wakashio’ may seem like the consequence of a human error without obvious explanation, it is not a consequence of a lack of crew change. > > It writes [Tradewinds](https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/master-and-crew-of-grounded-bulker-off-mauritius-were-not-caught-up-in-crew-change-crisis/2-1-855542) with reference to a press conference that the ship’s owner and technical operator - Nagashiki Shipping - held yesterday in Tokyo. > > Here it was stated that only two of the ship’s 20 crew members had been on board for longer than their original contract dictates. > > - The captain is within the maximum 12-month period. After the first five-month contract, his contract was extended until the end of September at the captain’s own request, Nagashiki Shipping informs Tradewinds. > > There were three Indian officers, one from Sri Lanka and 16 Filipino crew members aboard the ‘Wakashio’. [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/giant-bulker-wakashio-aground-on-reef-off-mauritius/56171.md?page=3)