Another ship was tossed over by storms, this time on South Africa’s West Coast.
Two weeks ago, a flagged cargo ship, from Panama, the MV Ultra Galaxy was abandoned by its crew of 18 seafarers, in the Eastern Cape, whilst traveling to Tanzania.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) attributed both incidents to a spate of stormy winter weather.
In a statement about the latest incident, SAMSA said efforts are underway to install a system to determine and monitor the structural integrity of the wreck and guide the safest method to bring the ship upright and remove it from the beach.
Thus far, salvors have removed several lube oil drums and about eight (8) tons of marine gas oil from the fuel tanks of the wreck.
SAMSA said that a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) is scheduled to report in Cape Town on 29 July to uplift and load specialized fuel removal heating and salvage equipment.
“The PSV will then depart for the wreck (and) once stationed off the wreck, the PSV will use its dynamic positioning system and two anchors to position itself as close to the wreck as possible. The PSV will serve as a stable working platform, and the remaining fuel will be pumped from the wreck to the PSV via pipelines” said SAMSA.
An Orange level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves was issued earlier in the week by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
SAMSA said more work will resume, once the weather subsides.
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) remains on standby, ready to respond should an oil spill occur.
Picture: SAMSA