Safmarine Agulhas salvage operation continues

Jul 5, 2006
Author: SMIT Salvage

East London, 5 July 16.00: Efforts to remove the fuel and deck cargo from the grounded container ship 'Safmarine Agulhas' continue. To date, 80 containers have been removed from the casualty in a cargo removal operation that began yesterday morning. A total of 277 containers are on deck and a 550 tonne crane located on the breakwater and capable of lifting 33 tonnes at the required reach is being utilised in this operation. Under current operational conditions, the teams aboard the vessel and on the breakwater are able to lift 7 containers an hour off of the 'Safmarine Agulhas' and this operation is proceeding well in favourable weather conditions.

Deck cargo will continue to be lifted off of the casualty both day and night but will be halted should working conditions be deemed unsafe. Containers removed from the casualty are being transported by road to a secure area in the Port of East London.

Whilst salvors have reported water ingress in two of the cargo holds, the ingress is being monitored by the salvage team and this is not affecting the progress of the cargo removal operation. The impact of the water ingress on the cargo will be determined by surveyors. The structural integrity of the vessel continues to be monitored by the salvage team and their naval architects and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's oil pollution patrol aircraft 'Kuswag VIII', stationed in East London, reported no oil pollution after it over flew the casualty this morning.

The fuel removal operation continues day and night, with fuel being pumped from the 'Safmarine Agulhas' into rail tank cars located on the Western Breakwater. The vessel had a total of 662 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on board prior to the fuel removal operation commencing and this operation is proceeding well.

Safety of life and the protection of the marine environment remain the top priorities for the 'Safmarine Agulhas' Joint Operations Committee, which meets daily.

A number of proactive environmental protection measures are in place:

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

The 'Safmarine Agulhas' ran aground shortly after exiting the Port of East London on the night of Monday 26th June and is aground approximately five metres off of the Western Breakwater. Additional information will be released as and when it becomes available.