Cape Town, 16 July: Salvage teams and divers working on the Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy have started with sealing the fuel tanks to prevent any oil from spilling into the ocean.
This according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) that says the salvage teams are also investigating the structural integrity of the vessel to plan a way forward to secure and safely remove the oil and wreck from the area, . The vessel ran aground on the evening 9 July off the coast of Duiwegat, south of Brand se Baai on the West Coast.
The ship was abandoned by her crew of 18 Filipino seafarers after developing an excessive list. The crew is now safely back in the Philippines.
In the recent extreme weather the ship’s hatch covers were dislodged and detached from the vessel, leaving the cargo holds vulnerable and a significant part of the ship’s fertiliser cargo was swept away by the sea.
SAMSA says at this stage of the operation the vessel poses no new environmental threats, however all efforts are being made to monitor the situation and put preventative measures in place.
While some hatch covers have been retrieved, a navigation alert has been issued for ships in the vicinity. Current efforts are focused on removing the fertiliser bags that are washing up on the shoreline. It is expected that most of the fertiliser in the individual cargo bags would have dissolved and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) is implementing an environmental monitoring program.
The search for flotsam and other debris from the ship will be expanding over the next few days, as the salvage crew tries to use the good weather between cold fronts.
With the drift pattern expected to be in a southerly direction, members of the public on the West Coast south of Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay are requested to look out for any debris that may wash up on the beach, such as cargo bags, steel hatch covers, and other flotsam, and report them to SAMSA through the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at 021 938 3300 or 012 938 3303.
Members of the public are also requested not to attempt to salvage any debris themselves. It is important to properly dispose of any debris safely in order to minimise harm to people and the environment.
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) remains on standby, ready to respond should an oil spill occur, and seabirds become affected.
The Panama-registered MV Ultra Galaxy (previously known as Thor Galaxy and Thorco Galaxy) is a 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel built in 2008. At the time of its distress call early on Monday, she was on her way to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
Further details will be shared as they become available.
