TOKYO: The 58-year-old Indian captain of a Japanese cargo ship grounded off the coast of Mauritius was arrested on Tuesday, British broadcaster BBC and others reported.

The Japanese ship MV Wakashio spilled about 1,000 tons of fuel oil into the ocean after running aground off the coast of the Indian Ocean island country last month, causing concerns about environmental destruction.

The captain is suspected of endangering safe navigation, according to the reports.

The ship is owned by Nagashiki Shipping Co., based in Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, and was chartered by Japanese shipping firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.

The reports quoted police as saying that there had been a birthday party on the ship before it ran aground.

The police are also investigating a theory that the ship navigated close to the shore in order to pick up Wi-Fi signal, according to reports.

JIJI Press