Satellite Imagery Captures Wakashio Being Towed Toward Antarctica As Mystery Of Mauritius Ship Deepens

The boat hasn't gotten close to Antarctica (still near Mauritius), it seems to be near latitude 20 S, but the Indian Ocean is pretty empty so this vector seems peculiar …

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishandegnarain/2020/08/19/satellite-imagery-captures-wakashio-being-towed-toward-antarctica-as-mystery-of-ship-deepens/

Overhead satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies taken on Wednesday 19 August at 7.39am captured the forward section of the Wakashio wreck being towed out to sea in the direction of Antarctica on Wednesday 19 August. In this set of satellite imagery, the wreck could clearly be seen 16 kilometers Southeast of Pointe D’Esny, Mauritius.

This was the first time that the vessel had been off the reefs since it had been beached on 25 July 2020.

Earlier satellite tracking using Synthetic Aperture Radar from Iceye and analysis from Ursa Space Systems had revealed the vessel had been heading in a South Easterly direction an hour earlier at 6.27am.

The co-ordinates of the Wakashio by 7.39am was at Lat: -20.499, Long: 57.863, which show it in a direction heading toward Antarctica. The Wakashio was in the largest category of ships in the world, a Capesize, with a hull the length just short of a Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier at over 300m.

The images from just after 7.30am on Wednesday 19 August, show the two support vessels making a wide circle around the forward section of the Wakashio.

The cargo bays of the Wakashio which is used to carry heavy iron ore, can be seen to be fully open, as the vessel is towed toward the Southern Ocean.

Silence on Wakashio’s final destination

To date, there has been no comment from the shipowner, Nagashiki Shipping, the Government of Mauritius, the Government of France present on the scene through the French Overseas Minister, Sebastien Lecornuu, the Government of Japan who have six experts present or the international regulator, the International Maritime Organization who have a specialist present and advising local officials.

In a world of 24 hour media, satellites and expected transparency, social media and industry chat rooms have been filled with rumors about why such a need for secrecy.

Whose decision was it to take the Wakashio out to sea? To what destination? Was that a unanimous decision?