The AFP news agency said the 13,000–dwt  World Tankers-managed Tromso (built 2008) got stuck off the north of the island in the Emerald Sea last Thursday, as it approached the port of Diego Suarez.

The tanker has damaged its hull, according to Jerome Sambalis of Madagascar's port authority.

Specialists are being flown to the Indian Ocean from South Africa.

A lightering vessel arrived from the Seychelles on Wednesday.

Sambalis