Scooping up of oil, suspected to have leaked from the Motor Vessel (MV) MSC Apollo, is expected to get underway, as rough seas have calmed in Algoa Bay, in the Eastern Cape.
Oiled wildlife rescue is also expected to begin.
A vessel in the Algoa Bay spotted oil-like blobs and an oily sheen on the water, on Saturday afternoon.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said “the preliminary investigation by the response craft, found an oily substance on the water at about 5pm on Saturday. The launch reported that the oily substance on water was coming from the Motor Vessel (MV) MSC Apollo.”
SAMSA also said the vessel’s insurers were approached to provide oil spill trajectory modelling from ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited). This would ensure that the next day’s spill response, would be focused in the appropriate area.
The South Africa Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) is investigating further.
Picture: SAMSA