Who Is Removing Oil From Chuuk’s WWII Wrecks?

So who is removing the oil? The main team is the Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS). A July 2025 report by Nippon.com described its work in the lagoon. The team uses special equipment to pump oil out of tanks and trapped pockets inside the wrecks. It also checks the condition of the hulls and trains Chuuk government employees, so local people can keep doing this work themselves. The regional environment organisation SPREP has also announced a partnership to address the oil risk in Chuuk.

Why can’t divers simply pump it all out?

Because the wrecks are old, rusting and hard to read. Some fuel sits in pockets deep inside damaged ships. Officials have said that nobody knows for sure how much oil is left. Taking it out needs specialised equipment and very careful handling, because the wrong approach could break a hull and cause more harm.

The work also depends on money, on a safe way to dispose of the oil, and on monitoring for many years. Emptying one ship does not remove the risk from the others.

What has the work achieved so far?

The 2025 report says JMAS had removed oil from several wrecks over several years and was increasing its recovery work. It also describes plans to train more Chuuk government employees and to watch closely the ships that look most at risk.

This is important progress. But it is not proof that the lagoon is free from pollution. In September 2025, oil was seen leaking from the Rio de Janeiro Maru, and a state of emergency was declared in Chuuk, according to DIVE Magazine. That leak shows why preventive work and emergency plans still matter so much. We wrote a practical guide on what to check before a Chuuk wreck dive after the oil leak.

What would a stronger response include?

A stronger response would include:

• local monitoring of the wrecks
• open, public reporting
• trained responders and spill equipment ready on the island
• independent scientific assessment
• steady international support, year after year

Chuuk’s government and communities need the resources to protect their own waters. They need more than a short wave of attention after the next leak.

A wreck dive in Chuuk is unforgettable. These ships are also war graves, and they deserve to be visited with reverence. The quiet work that keeps oil out of the reef matters just as much, and it is much harder to photograph. If you plan a dive there, read the latest environmental updates and local advisories first, and ask your operator what they know about the current state of the wrecks.

Questions people ask

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