Safmarine Agulhas - update

Jul 11, 2006
Author: SMIT Salvage

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 refloating 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