Wakashio Oil Spill Simulation Report

Environmental and Incident Parameters
Parameter Value / Description
Wind Speed4 to 10.5 m/s (avg. 6.1 m/s); max: 8.8 m/s (Jul 10), 8.2 m/s (Jul 26, Aug 30)
Wind Direction85.7° to 190.4°, predominantly southeast; avg. 110°–115.1°
Wave Height (SWH)1.3 – 4.2 m, avg. 2.3 m; high: 3.6 m (Jul 25), 2.8 m (Aug 06)
Wave Period (MWP)5.2 – 8.8 s, avg. 7 s
Tidal Elevation0.65 – 1.98 m; high tides: 1.7 m (Jul 25), 1.6 m (Aug 06)
Current Speed0.129 – 0.434 m/s; avg. 0.284 m/s
Current DirectionPredominantly southwest
Stokes DriftNorthwestward; aligned with wave propagation
Spill Location~20.438°S, 57.745°E (near Pointe d'Esny, Mauritius)
Oil TypeVery Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), diesel, lube oils
Oil Volume1050 metric tons (1000 initially, 50 tons later)
Simulation StartJuly 25 or August 06, 2020 (depending on model setup)
Simulation Duration18 days (typical); from July 25 or August 06 to mid/late August
Windage Factor3% of wind speed
Diffusion Coefficient100,000 cm²/s (default)
Refloat Half-life1 hour (default for GNOME)
Incident TimelineGrounding: July 25, 2020; Oil leak: Aug 06; Ship breakup: Aug 15
Shoreline DataHigh-resolution data for southeast Mauritius
BathymetryDepth data near the incident area
Oil EvaporationSimulated using 3-phase evaporation model
Mass BalanceTracks floating, beached, evaporated, and dispersed oil