At a Glance

The spill dumped 1,000 tons of black sludge into the Indian Ocean.An analysis showed the oil had a unique composition.One theory is that it's a new type of fuel aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

An oil spill off the coast of Mauritius in August may have dumped hundreds of tons of a mystery fuel into an area of the Indian Ocean known for its marine life and pristine waters, reefs and atolls.

An analysis of a sample of the oil by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution showed a " mix of hydrocarbons."

Chris Reddy, a marine oil expert at Woods Hole and one of the scientists who conducted the analysis, told weather.com Thursday the fuel could be a new lower-sulfur version aimed at reducing shipping's carbon footprint.

The shipping industry accounts for about 2% to 3% of , according to a report last year by the World Economic Forum. Greenhouse gases fuel global warming, which in turn drives climate change impacts including extreme temperatures and rising sea levels.

The industry has vowed to cut its emissions by at least 50% over the next three decades.

Reddy said lower-sulfur fuel could help accomplish that.

"When the fuel has more sulfur in it when it comes out of the exhaust, it leads to products that impact air quality," he said.

Another theory, floated in a recent column published online by Forbes, is that the fuel . The idea of mixing plastic with fuel is seen as a possible way to boost recycling, but environmentalists say , according to EcoWatch.

Reddy said different fuels have different compositions and therefore require different handling. it's important to unravel the chemical makeup of an oil spill in order to better target cleanup and mitigation efforts, including how to clean off oil-covered rocks and what types of booms to use to contain the spill.

"You want as much intelligence as possible," he said. "One of the ways is to know what was spilled."

He compared it to cleaning up a household accident.

"When you spill sparkling water on your carpet, you're probably not going to do too much," Reddy said. "When you spill red wine, your outcome is going to be different."

The Japanese ship MV Wakashio along the southeastern coast of Mauritius in July. High winds and waves pounded the ship, causing it to crack and spew at least 1,000 tons of black sludge into the turquoise waters. Dolphins, eels, starfish and other sea life were found dead.

The vessel later broke in half, and the captain was after crew members reported there had been a birthday party on board the day of the spill.

The incident prompted large protests by environmentalists and local residents, who rely on fishing and tourism for their livelihoods.

About live on Mauritius, a 1,200-square-mile island nation some 1,400 miles east of Mozambique.

Volunteers collect leaked oil on Aug. 13, 2020, from the MV Wakashio bulk carrier that ran aground at the beach in Bois des Amourettes, Mauritius.

(BEEKASH ROOPUN/L'Express Maurice/AFP via Getty Images)

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