Oil Spill Adjacent to UNESCO World Heritage Site in Solomon Islands

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, a bauxite bulk carrier, the 'Solomon Trader,' carrying an estimated 700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, ran aground in Solomon Islands' Rennell and Bellona Province. The vessel is located in Kangava Bay, Rennell Island, adjacent to a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Aerial assessments conducted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on behalf of the Solomon Islands government confirmed extensive oil leakage around the ship, dispersing across the surrounding sea and shoreline. Experts estimate that 320 - 340 tons were spilled about 100,000 gallons of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), into a reef system that had the highest coral diversity in the bay, and a locally established "Tehakatu'u Marine Protected Area" where the ship now sits.