ASSOCIATED PRESS/Australian Maritime Safety Authority The “MV Solomon Trader” ran aground on Feb. 5 and is now leaking oil next to a UNESCO World Heritage site. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — An environmental disaster is unfolding in the Pacific after a large ship ran aground and began leaking oil next to a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Solomon Islands, Australian officials said Friday. The ship was chartered by the Bintan Mining company in the Solomon Islands to carry bauxite, which is used in aluminum production. Bintan Solomon Islands chief executive Fred Tang was not immediately available for comment Friday. It said the Solomon Islands government had advised it that the responsibility to salvage the ship and mitigate the environmental impact lay with the companies involved.

Source: Huffington Post March 01, 2019 06:11 UTC