Challenging Assumptions Around the MV Wakashio Grounding
By Dr Ryan Lloyd, Head Of Research And Development at Geollect – On Sunday 25th July 2020, the Panama-flagged Japanese-owned MV Wakashio was involved in an incident on the south-east coast of Mauritius that resulted in over 1000 tonnes of bunker fuel spilling onto protected coral reefs & marine ecosystems. A formal investigation is ongoing, but several theories have been put forward to explain the cause. These range from poor weather conditions, alcohol abuse by the crew, and route planning and navigation issues.
This article will show that an incident such as this is complex and involve many different factors. Data exists to enable a human analyst to conduct research and develop understanding.