12 July 2006
Good progress continues to be made with respect to the removal of cargo from
the grounded container ship 'Safmarine Agulhas'. The salvage team has removed
all deck cargo as well as containers stacked below deck in two of the four
holds. The vessel was carrying 469 loaded containers containing varied cargo
and 112 empty containers when it ran aground. The removal of the remaining
containers onboard, located in the two holds affected by water ingress, also
began today.
The fuel removal operation continues and thus far approximately 580 tonnes
has been removed. The vessel had approximately 662 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on
board prior to the fuel removal operation commencing.
The structural integrity of the vessel continues to be monitored and
internal assessments are continuously being undertaken. Future re-floating
attempts have been delayed in order to ensure that the fuel and cargo removal
operations are completed.
A number of proactive environmental protection measures remain in place:
* The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's (DEAT) oil pollution
patrol aircraft 'Kuswag VIII', stationed in East London, over flies the
casualty daily.
* DEAT has mobilised oil spill abatement equipment and a team of experts to
East London. This team is conducting daily beach patrols to monitor any impact
on the environment.
* The SMIT oil pollution abatement vessel 'Kuswag IV' is on site as an
additional precaution.
* The tug 'Smit Amandla' is connected to the 'Safmarine Agulhas' and is holding
her off of the breakwater.
Enquiries:
South African Maritime Safety Authority:
Captain Saleem Modak
Tel: (021) 421 4069
Cell: 083 257 5931
Fax: (021) 421 6109
E-mail: smodak@samsa.org.za
Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism:
Saasa Pheeha
Tel: 082 558 5837
E-mail: spheeha@deat.gov.za
National Ports Authority:
Terry Taylor
Cell: 083 284 1786
E-mail: terryt@npa.co.za
SMIT Salvage:
Clare Gomes
Tel: (021) 507 5703
Cell: 082 909 2025
Fax: (021) 507 5888
E-mail: c.gomes@smit.com
The vessel owners:
F A Vinnen and Company (GmbH & Co KG)
Mr Michael Vinnen
Tel: (042) 133 5000
Cell: 072 438 4422
Fax: (042) 133 5004
E-mail: Michael.vinnen@vinnen.com
Safmarine cargo:
Victor Shieh
PR and Communications Executive
Safmarine Container Lines N V
Tel: (043) 244 4843
Fax: (043) 244 4840
E-mail: vshieh@be.safmarine.com
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
12 August 2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
