Soloman Islands Sues Ship Operators Over Devastating 2019 Oil Spill
A legal case was filed in the High Court in Honiara, Soloman Islands, on January 31, 2025, over a devastating oil spill that has been one of the country’s worst environmental disasters.
Local landowners and the Soloman Islands Government are taking international companies to court, seeking compensation for the damage caused.
The incident occurred on February 5, 2019, when Hong Kong-flagged MV Solomon Trader, which was carrying 700 tonnes of oil, broke loose during a cyclone and ran aground on Kongobainiu Reef.
This area is prone to cyclones, and the ship, which was loading bauxite from a nearby mine, spilt oil into the water, causing severe harm to marine life into the water, causing severe harm to marine life and the environment.
The spill affected local villages, including Matanga, Vangu, Lavangu, and Kangava, forcing them to depend on food deliveries from the capital, Honiara.
Oil spills are dangerous because they release toxic chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the water, which harm both wildlife and humans.
The cleanup of such spills is costly and complicated. Now, the ship’s owners, the bauxite mining company, and their insurers are being held responsible in court by the af…
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