Safmarine Agulhas salvage operation - DAY NINE

Jul 6, 2006
Author: SMIT Salvage

It has been 9 days since the container ship 'Safmarine Agulhas' ran aground shortly after exiting the Port of East London en route to Durban following engine failure. During this time, personnel, specialist equipment and other resources have been mobilised and utilised in an effort to ensure that the vessel and her cargo are saved, the environment is protected and that safety of life remains a top priority. A 'Safmarine Agulhas' Joint Operations Committee met for the first time 14 hours after the vessel ran aground and have continued to meet daily in an effort to ensure consistent communications and a well managed response.

Following a number of refloating attempts last week, authorities including the South African Maritime Safety Authority, National Ports Authority and Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism and salvage company SMIT Salvage have focussed their efforts on protecting the marine environment from pollution by removing the fuel oil from the vessel (an operation that continues). This remains a top operational priority in addition to the removal of cargo from the deck of the 'Safmarine Agulhas', where a total of 277 containers were located. More than half of the containers on deck have been discharged from the casualty thus far.

The grounding forces acting on the vessel combined with the effect of the continuous action of the sea on the casualty in this exposed location is beginning to have a detrimental effect on the vessel's structural integrity. There is water ingress in two of the cargo holds and the engine room. The structural integrity of the vessel continues to be monitored and should it deteriorate any further, future refloating attempts may be delayed in order to ensure that the fuel and cargo removal operations are completed. The impact of water ingress on cargo will be determined by surveyors and salvors continue to monitor the situation in the cargo holds and engine room, utilising submersible pumps as and when necessary. Both the fuel removal operation and the cargo removal operation continue on a 24 hour basis, as and when operational conditions allow.

A number of proactive environmental protection measures are in place:

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's (DEAT) oil pollution patrol aircraft 'Kuswag VIII', stationed in East London, reported no oil pollution after it over flew the casualty this morning

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

Additional information will be released as and when it becomes available.