The vessel, with its cargo of 15,000 tonnes of rice as well as 330 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, sank at 0400 hrs yesterday in 1,000 m of water, according to the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa), in a statement given by spokeswoman Athane Scholtz. “They have assured us that this is very far and very deep and poses no serious environmental risk to the South African coast."
“Cape Nature has requested that the public be aware of the clean-up still happening inside the reserve and to respect any possible restrictions of movement that it may imply,” Scholtz said.
No oil pollution has been reported along the South African coastline.
Meanwhile on South Africa’s Eastern coast, bulk carrier Smart, which suffered damage to its steering gear and ran aground on its way out of port, has now split cleanly in two and is resting on a sand ridge in Richard’s Bay. All 23 crew have been safely airlifted off the ship.
Authorities are now initiating a salvage operation to empty the vessel’s 147,650 tonnes of coal, which was loaded at the Richard’s Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) bound for China. The vessel's owners have contracted salvage companies Subtech and SMIT Salvage, and according to a spokesman for the owner, "all operations are being carried out in close cooperation cooperation with the South African authorities" .
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