The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) warned on Tuesday that large steel hatch covers dislodged from a grounded cargo ship on the Cape west coast pose a significant navigational hazard.
Also read: Filipino cargo ship grounds off Brand se Baai after crew rescue
The 125m MV Ultra Galaxy ran aground on 9 July 2024 at Duiwegat, south of Brand se Baai, causing its large steel hatch covers to dislodge and detach.
According to TimesLive, while some of these covers have been retrieved, others are believed to be adrift, drifting southward.
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According to Samsa, the absence of the hatch covers has allowed much of the ship’s fertiliser cargo to be swept away by the sea, with most of it likely dissolving in the ocean.
‘Efforts are focused on removing the fertiliser bags washing up on the shoreline,’ Samsa said in a salvage update.
‘It is expected that most of the fertiliser in the cargo bags would have dissolved and the department of forestry, fisheries and environment is implementing an environmental monitoring programme.’
‘The search for flotsam and other debris from the ship will be expanding over the next few days as the salvage crew tries to use the good weather between cold fronts,’ said Samsa.
Given the expected southward drift, West Coast residents from Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay are asked to watch for beach debris like cargo bags and steel hatch covers and report it to Samsa at 021 938 3300 or 012 938 3303.
The 18-member crew, who endured a harrowing 17-hour ordeal in a life raft before being rescued, have returned safely to the Philippines.
The crew were compelled to abandon ship when the vessel began to list dangerously during a storm.
Earlier this year, Samsa announced it was enhancing its emergency response capacity due to increased marine traffic around the Cape caused by the Red Sea security situation.
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Also read:
Filipino ship crew members on life raft rescued off WC coast