The vessel from which 18 Filipino crew members had to be rescued off the West Coast on Monday has gone aground off the coast of Brand se Baai.
Also read: Filipino ship crew members on life raft rescued off WC coast
The MV Ultra Galaxy, a Panama-flagged cargo ship, was abandoned by its crew after it took on water approximately 60 nautical miles west of Doring Bay.
Tebogo Ramatjie, a spokesperson for the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa), said an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert was detected at 3am. The Samsa Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town dispatched two nearby cargo vessels to investigate.
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‘We are relieved to report that all crew members have been accounted for and are safely aboard the MFV Malachite,’ Ramatjie added. The crew members, who arrived at St Helena Bay on Tuesday, will be transported to Cape Town to continue their trip.
A navigation warning was issued for the drifting vessel in the interim.
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On Wednesday, Samsa confirmed that the 124.56-metre-long general cargo vessel had run aground off the coast of Brand se Baai on the West Coast, 385km north of Cape Town around 10pm.
The state-owned entity said efforts will now be focused on preventing fuel and oil spills.
‘Preliminary indications are that the vessel has a full load of fertilizer in bags on board. She also has low sulphur bunkering fuel in addition to hydraulic and related oils,’ Samsa said in a statement.
Salvage operations had been scaled up and two tugs were en route to the location. ‘Salvage operations are currently underway for the stricken vessel, Ultra Galaxy, off the coast of Brand se Baai on the West Coast,’ it added.
‘On Monday one tug was dispatched and arrived at the location of the listing of the general cargo vessel at around on Tuesday). Another tug with more personnel and extra equipment departed from Cape Town on Tuesday evening to assist in the salvage efforts.’
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Picture: Mika Baumeister / Unsplash