UPDATE ON WAKASHIO VESSEL AS AT 4PM ON THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 2020

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		<p>The National Crisis Committee has taken note of the progress made with regards to the scuttling exercise of the stem section of the casualty which has reached the identified location as confirmed by the Chief Salvage Master.</p>
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		<p>The Chief Salvage Master reassured that all the hydraulic oil as well as floating debris have been removed from the vessel.</p>
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		<p>The scuttling operation is planned to start at 1600hrs. A team of observers from the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping and Marine Mammal Observers and Marine Mega Fauna Conservation will attend.</p>
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		<p>Being given that the sea state will improve as from tomorrow, Friday 21 August 2020, SMIT Salvage master will proceed with the pumping off of the remaining lubricating oil in the aft-section.</p>
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		<p>The National Coast Guard is continuously monitoring the deployed booms especially around sensitive sites and repairs/replacement of damaged booms are being attended to.</p>
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		<p>The National Crisis Committee has taken note that there has not been any ingress of oil in Blue Bay Marine Park as confirmed by the National Coast Guard and Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping.</p>
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		<p>A systematic survey of the shoreline will also be carried out around mangrove areas and other sensitive sites so as to adopt a more targeted approach for the shoreline clean-up.</p>
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		<p>The tests conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change have not revealed any presence of volatile organic compound in the air around residential areas and schools in the affected regions.</p>
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		<p>The British Authorities are assisting by providing the services of experts in the field of marine benthic ecology, environmental sampling, tropical ecosystems, coral reefs and wreck disposal.</p>
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<p><strong>National Crisis Committee</strong></p>

<p><strong>Thursday August 20, 2020</strong></p>