Since the weather off the coast of South Africa has calmed down, the salvage work on the capsized general cargo ship “Ultra Galaxy” is progressing.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) announced that fuel and oil would first be extracted to prevent sea pollution. However, a large part of the cargo was lost.
The Panama-registered “Ultra Galaxy” (13,800 dwt) was on its way to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania when it ran aground in the heavy winds north of Cape Town last Tuesday. The 18-strong crew from the Philippines had to abandon the Ultrabulk-operated ship, but no one was injured. All crew members have since returned to the Philippines.
Due to the extreme weather conditions last week, which prevented numerous container ships from passing the Cape, the cargo hold covers of the capsized “Ultra Galaxy” also came loose. Some of them have already been salvaged. SAMSA did not give an exact amount, but stated that a large part of the fertiliser the ship was carrying had been washed away.
Debris and fertiliser bags washed ashore
Nearby ships were informed to keep an eye out for debris and floating debris at sea. Residents on the west coast south of Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay have also been asked to report any debris found on the beach.
“Efforts are currently focused on the removal of fertiliser bags that are washed up on the coast,” the authority explained. “We assume that most of the fertiliser in the individual bags has disintegrated. The search for flotsam and other debris from the vessel will be extended over the next few days as the salvage crew try to take advantage of the good weather between the cold fronts.”
Fuel tanks of the “Ultra Galaxy” sealed
Salvage teams and divers have begun sealing the fuel tanks to prevent oil from leaking into the sea. Work has also begun to investigate the vessel’s structural integrity and develop a plan to secure and safely remove the wreck from the area.
At this stage, however, the “Ultra Galaxy” poses no new threat to the environment, SAMSA announced. Nevertheless, the situation will be monitored and preventive measures will be taken.
