An oil spill from the recently grounded bulk carrier MV Benita on the southeast coast of Mauritius has reportedly been put under control, according to local media reports.

The coast guard authorities have installed buoys to contain the fuel spilled from the 1998-built vessel and the cleaning works are in progress.

Although it was not loaded with cargo when it grounded on the reef of Le Bouchon, the vessel was carrying some 150 tons of oil. Initial oil pumping operation have been hampered by inclement weather conditions at the site.

The Greek company Five Oceans Salvage was hired to pump out the vessel’s remaining fuel and undertake the salvage operations, however, reports suggest that the efforts to free the bulker could take over a month to complete.

Featuring 44,183 dwt, the bulker ran aground in the morning hours of June 17 as a result of a fight which broke out between the vessel’s crewmembers the night before.

At the time of the incident, the Liberian-flagged ship, crewed by 23 seafarers, was on its way from the Indian port of Paradip to the port of Durban, South Africa.