The clean-up of a massive oil spill in August from a vessel off Mauritius will likely be mostly completed by January, the bulk carrier's owner, Japan's Nagashiki Shipping, said Thursday.
Of the roughly 1,000 tons that spilled from the Panamanian-flagged MV Wakashio, all of the oil that had been floating in the ocean had been recovered, Nagashiki Shipping said in a statement.
Work to remove the oil along approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of coastline was proceeding smoothly and would likely be completed by January, it said.
Mauritius oil spill in the Indian Ocean
The MV Wakashio is split into two parts near Mauritius' Blue Bay Marine Park on Sunday, August 16.
The MV Wakashio ran aground at Pointe d'Esny, east of the island nation of Mauritius.
Volunteers attempt to surround the oil spill on Wednesday, August 12. Local residents are stuffing fabric sacks with sugar cane leaves to try to stop the oil spill from reaching their shores.
Volunteers make handmade oil barriers at the Mahébourg waterfront on August 12.
Oil is seen leaking from the MV Wakashio on Tuesday, August 11.
A fisherman places handmade oil barriers into the sea on August 11.
Volunteers carry a handmade oil barrier on August 10.
People scoop oil near Blue Bay Marine Park on August 9.
Volunteers clean up oil on August 9.
Washed-up oil is seen on a beach on August 9.
This aerial photo shows a large patch of leaked oil on August 8.
Bystanders look at the MV Wakashio from the shore.
Leaked oil is pushed by currents in the bay of Grand Port.
The wrecked ship and its leaking oil are seen from the air on August 7.
Workers are seen on the ship on August 7.
A man scoops leaked oil from the water.
This satellite image shows the leak and ship on August 7.
The MV Wakashio sits in the water on August 7.
The vessel, chartered by Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, ran aground on a reef in Mauritius on July 25 and began leaking oil on August 6.
The spilt oil had spread over a vast area of endangered corals, affecting fish and other marine life in what some scientists have called the Indian Ocean island's worst ecological disaster.
Nagashiki Shipping also said the planned removal of the rear portion of the vessel would begin in late December and last several months. The front part was scuttled in August as instructed by local authorities.