The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is proud to announce the National Workshop on Promoting Shipping Decarbonisation and Aligning with the IMO Net-Zero Framework, that will take place on Thursday, 10 July 2025, in Pretoria, South Africa.
This landmark event – the first of its kind following the historic approval of the IMO Net-Zero Framework at MEPC 83 in April 2025 – will bring together maritime industry stakeholders, policymakers, and thought leaders for an in-depth dialogue on: • Understanding the new IMO Net-Zero Framework • Clarifying Member State roles and responsibilities • Strengthening institutional support for shipping decarbonisation • Aligning national and regional goals with global commitments • Preparing strategically for the Framework’s adoption in October 2025
Be part of a catalytic platform that will define Africa’s contribution to global maritime decarbonisation and shape the path forward for a sustainable, future-ready industry.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) ran the Access to Seafaring Careers Survey from September 2024. Please note that the survey is now closed and no new responses are being accepted.
The feedback and results of the survey that were completed by over a 1000 seafarers will be assessed and analysed to determine how to influence regulations that affect seafarers’ unemployment, welfare and gender representation.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) thanks all seafarers who took the time to complete the survey and share their views. Results of the survey will be shared in due course.
A marine court of enquiry is to be set up by the Department of Transport (DoT) to fully establish the cause/s of the sinking of a Cape Town based South African commercial vessel, the FV Lepanto, earlier in 2024 and whose demise cost the lives of 11 crew, while nine (9) others were successfully rescued; the ministry has announced.
The launch of the enquiry, according to DoT national spokesman, Mr Colleen Msibi in a statement on Wednesday, follow a submission of a draft preliminary enquiry report by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to Transport Minister, Ms Barbara Creecy, and deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa this past weekend.
The SAMSA draft report is scheduled to be finalised and released before the end of 2024, said Mr Msibi.
Mr Msibi said: “The Minister of Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy and the Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa have on Sunday the 10th of November 2024 received a notification from the South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) indicating that a draft report regarding the tragic sinking of the Fishing Vessel Lepanto, has been completed. The tragic accident happened on 17 May 2024, where eleven lives perished at sea.
“The Minister and Deputy Minister have requested (the) SAMSA board to urgently finalize the report with its legal team. They have also instructed the Department to begin a process of establishing a Marine Court of Enquiry to further pursue an investigation and bring the report to finality.
“Creecy and Hlengwa have expressed their strong desire to release the final preliminary report before the end of the year,” said Mr Msibi.
The sinking in May 2024 of the 38,6-meters long, 63 years old FV Lepanto, resulting in the tragic loss of lives of 11 crew believed to have remained trapped onboard – the vessel reportedly sank rapidly, within about five (5) minutes after a sudden heavy listing – was one of a handful of sea incidents involving commercial fishing vessels during the year and from which approximately 70 crew members in total were successfully rescued and evacuated.
The incidents included a sister commercial vessel to the FV Lepanto, the FV Armana which reportedly had been the first responder to issue a mayday call, as well as rescue and evacuate the nine (9) surviving crew members of the FV Lepanto on 17 May 2024.
Incidentally, five months later, the FV Armana reportedly also caught fire and sank in October 2024 while out at sea in a location some 60 nautical miles offshore from Gansbaai on the Atlantic Ocean. All its 20 crew members on board were successfully rescued and evacuated back to Cape Town.
The two sister commercial fishing vessels’ incidents were interspersed by two others, the grounding of the FV Elke M in January, near St Francis Bay on the Eastern Cape coast (Indian Ocean), and the sinking of the FV Oceana Amethyst approximately 20 nautical miles west north- west of Slangkoppunt on the Altantic Ocean in the Western Cape.
All crew on board both vessels (FV Elke M = 22 and FV Oceana Amethyst = 20) were successfully rescued and evacuated.
South Africa’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport has expressed its pleasure and satisfaction with the work of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), even as the entity is hard pressed to jack up its boots to enhance levels of safety in the country’s waterways for both life and property at sea.
The positive rating on SAMSA’s performance over the past year was expressed by the Committee’s chairperson, Mr Selelo David Selamolelo during a scheduled oversight visit of and meeting with the entity’s management leadership on Saturday, 12 October 2024 in Cape Town.
Said Mr Selamolelo; “The maritime space is very important for economic emancipation, but also for moving, generally, the economy of the country…… emerging from this meeting with SAMSA, we are pleased and happy with the work that they are currently doing, even as there are areas that they must improve on, especially those relating to contracts management, and transformation.”
SAMSA’s management leadership for the occassion comprised members of its Board of non-executive directors led by its chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA executive management led by Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Mbalenhle Golding; in the presence also of the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
SAMSA Board Chairperson, Mr Mahesh FakirLeft to Right: Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa with SAMSA Board Chairperson, Mr Mahesh FakirSAMSA Chief Financial Officer and Acting CEO, Ms Mbalenhle Golding
The meeting took place at SAMSA’s Cape Town based Centre for Sea Watch & Response (incorporating the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre) and which in 2024 has had to deal with a significantly higher number of maritime incidents compared with recent years, involving both transnational cargo vessels traversing across South Africa’s three oceans along a 3 200km coastline, as well as commercial fishing vessels; and from some of which incidents, in both caterogies, regrettably, life and property were lost at sea.
Regarding cargo vessels, incidents in the 2024 calendar year mostly involved ships losing containers at sea – with one eventually grounded on the west coast – all reportedly due to southern Africa’s adverse weather conditions this year. Among some of the cargo vessels’ incidents, in some instances, loss of crew members overboard were reported.
On the other hand, incidents related to commercial fishing vessels also involved no less than four of these, through either grounding (one in January in South Africa’s south east coast) or sinking (three in South Africa’s south west coast area over the last few months – with one resulting in a loss of 11 seafarers.
The spate of maritime incidents at South Africa’s oceans this year increasingly becoming a concern even at highest government level, five days prior to the portfolio committee on transport’s oversight meeting with SAMSA management leadership on Saturday, deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa had also had a special meeting with SAMSA’s executive management, also in Cape Town.
This was for a briefing on among other issues, the progress being achieved in the salvage of the wreck of a general cargo ship, the MV Ultra Galaxy, that’s currently underway on South Africa’s west coast since its grounding in early July.
In Cape Town on Saturday afternoon, emerging from the SAMSA management leadership meeting, and another with South Africa’s Ports Regular management team, Mr Selamolelo said the committee was not merely pleased and happy with SAMSA’s performance for the period under review, but also pledged the committee’s full support for the resourcing of the country’s maritime safety authority.
He said: “Coming out of this meeting is that we, as the Portfolio Committee on Transport, may have to find a way to give more support in terms of resources to SAMSA because they are doing a lot of work in terms of ensuring safety in our waters.”
For his full remarks during a brief interview with this blog, please click on the video below.
Prior to the portfolio committee on transport meeting in Cape Town on Saturday, both the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa, and SAMSA management leadership, led by Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, and Acting CEO, Ms Mbalenhle Golding, paid a courtesy visit to the Nelson Mandela University based South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) two days earlier (Thursday, 10 October 2024).
The visit was the new deputy Minister’s first to the institution, for his briefing and an exchange of notes on progress being achieved by the Department of Higher Education funded SAIMI with maritime skills development, as well as about challenges in the training and education sector requiring mutual support, cooperation and collaboration.
VISITING SAIMI: (From Left) SAMSA CFO and Acting CEO, Ms Mbalenhle Golding, SAMSA Board Chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa and SAIMI CEO, Mr Odwa Mtati.
The event, which encompassed a tour of SAIMI partners’ related maritime skills development projects located at the Nelson Mandela University, capped this year’s maritime transport sector focus as part of the annual October Transport Month campaign by the Deparment of Transport nationally.
For a comprehensive coverage, involving both remarks shared by earmarked officials on the stage as well as brief interviews with the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Hlengwa and SAIMI chief executive officer, Mr Odwa Mtati, and a brief tour of a maritime related technology skills development facility at the NMU, click on the videos below.
Brief Interview Remarks:
Transport Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa
SA International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) CEO, Mr Odwa Mtati
On Stage Remarks:
Nelson Mandela University Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Internationalisation, Prof Azwindi Muronga
In marking World Maritime Day 2024, under the theme: ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First’, South Africa – with an event held in Durban a week ago – literally took the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chosen subject for this year by the scruff of the neck, by devoting the entire event to school children’s maritime awareness elevation and exposure to careers in the sector.
No less than 500 pupils from as many as 10 high schools in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces filled the popular Transnet N-Shed adjacent the port of Durban’s Cruise Passenger Terminal on Thursday last week, for this year’s WMD domestic celebration.
The hosts were the provincial Department of Transport and Human Settlements, under the leadership of MEC, Mr Siboniso Duma, and the Ethekwini Maritime Clusture jointly with the Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
Mr Duma, flanked by the Mayor of Durban, Mr Cyril Xaba, was joined also by officials of the Port of Natal Maritime Museum, Life Saving SA, as well as education and training institutions and private sector companies’ representatives as exhibitors.
These included Amsol, the Durban University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Moses Kotane Institute, national Department of Transport, Ethekwini Biodiversity, Lifesavers Association, Ethekwini Natural Resource Development, Go Digital South Africa, Sharks Board, and others.
The invitation and hosting of school children during celebration of the WMD in South Africa, or any other of the IMO’s global calendar events – including Day of the Seafarers, held annually also on June 25 – is not uncommon nor their participation often limited.
However, for this year’s WMD celebration in Durban, their presence and being the central focal point of the event was as readily noticeable as it tied neatly with the year’s IMO chosen theme.
Mr Nkumbuzo Ben-Mazwi, Acting Port Manager; Port of Durban
According to TNPA’s port of Durban Acting Port Manager, Mr Nkumbuzo Ben-Mazwi: “This year’s theme says ‘Navigating the Future; Safety First‘ and so it is that by focusing on school children we are navigating the future through the young people in order to ensure that when we are no longer here, they will be able to run these ports even better than we have done.”
Towards this end, the event approach was to devote it wholesome to raising awareness of as many youths as possible on the day about the country and world’s maritime sector, inclusive of their exposure to the numerous career opportunities therein. That way, said Mr Ben-Mazwi, South Africa would secure the future safety and sustainability of the country maritime sector, and by extension the safety of the sea.
For his full remarks, click on the video below.
Meanwhile, during a chance, albeit, brief interview with Dr Dusty-Lee Donnelly, Director of Law and Maritime Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, this blog established that the university – one of a handful of this country’s institutions of higher learning with dedicated faculties on maritime studies – was already at an advanced stage of further engaging more youth in maritime education and training through deliberate linkages sought to be established with the country’s +50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
Dr Dusty-Lee Donnelly, Director of Law and Maritime Studies, KwaZulu-Natal University
“We want to put South Africa on the world map in all aspects of the maritime sphere….” quipped Dr Donnelly, revealing that beginning next year (2025) the university will be spreading its offerings.
This would involve among other initiatives; the launch of a specialised post-graduate certificate of education (PGCE) course, as well as an advanced diploma programme for TVET colleges lectures keen on acquiring or increasing their knowledge and practice to various branches of maritime studies.
The initiative, she said, was being pursued in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela University based South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) and the Durban Maritime Cluster – a key local business grouping with interest in maritime sector activities in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
For her full remarks on this and related, click on the video below.
Also present was Department of Transport deputy director for Maritime Industry Development, Ms Lindiwe Mawowa who also weighed on the significance of the approach to the WMD 2024 celebration by South Africa, restating the singular importance of the deliberate focus on youth.
For her full views, click on the video below.
Marking WMD 2024: On stage presentations.
World Maritime Day 2024 South Africa, Durban hosted celebratory event presenters: (From Top Left to Bottom Right), Mr Nkumbuzo Ben Mazwi (TNPA), Ms Zandile Cele (Port of Natal Maritime Museum), Capt. Thokozani Mthethwa (Port of Durban), Mr Dhaya Sewduth (LifeSaving SA), Capt. Hopewll Mkhize (SAMSA) and Mr Siboniso Duma (KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport & Human Settlements)
For the event presentations on stage, inclusive of the Opening Remarks (TNPA), Welcome Address (SAMSA) and Keynote Speech (KwaZulu-Natal provincial MEC for Transport & Human Settlements), click on the videos below.
The South Africa Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) has launched an investigation into an oily substance spillage believed to have come from a vehicle transportation vessel that was anchored in Algoa Bay on Saturday afternoon, reports the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
The oily substance, and whose exact quantity has yet to be established, said SAMSA; was reported after a vessel in the Algoa Bay spotted oil like blobs and an oily sheen on the water, and following to which TNPA Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) investigated.
“The preliminary investigation by the response craft, found an oily substance on the water at about 5pm on Saturday. The launch reported that the oily substance on water was coming from the Motor Vessel (MV) MSC Apollo.
“However, due to the onset of darkness late Saturday, further investigation was postponed. During the course of the Saturday evening SAMSA approached the vessel insurers to provide oil spill trajectory modelling from ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited). This would ensure that the next day’s spill response, would be focused in the appropriate area.
Early on Sunday, SAMSA reported that an Incident Management meeting was held by the IMOrg members, consisting of SAMSA, TNPA, DFFE, SANPARKS Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), as well as the vessel agent and vessel insurer’s representatives in South Africa.
IMOrg, a virtual organisation chaired by the Department of Transport (DoT) and SAMSA as the co-chair and secretariat, is South Africa’s preparedness forum for Government and industry joint response to oil spills within South Africa’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.5-million km² across the Atlantic, Southern and Indian Oceans.
IMOrg’ s membership is drawn from across various sectors of society inclusive of State departments including the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and public institutions, private companies as well as non-governmental organisations. IMOrg is responsible for implementation of South Africa’s national oil spill contingency plan (NOSCP).
“During the meeting,” said SAMSA: ” arrangements were made to speedily launch the necessary efforts to both determine the cause of the oil spillage from the MSC Apollo, the extent of the reported oil spill, as well as how to contain its spread in the Algoa Bay region and to protect the wildlife on the nearby islands of St Croix and Bird Island.
“Surveillance would involve sea patrols by boat, aerial surveillance by helicopter and drones launched from oil response boats as well as coastal foot patrols along the beach areas that were identified by ITOPF is likely to be impacted.
“A surveillance flight by rotary wing aircraft was carried out on Sunday afternoon in strong winds. The flight plan was directed by the results of the ITOPF modelling and included the St Croix Island group. The flight was attended by Officials from SANPARKS and SAMSA. No oil or oily sheen was spotted. The SANPARKS rangers conducted a foot patrol of the beaches between the Port of Ngqura and Sundays River. No oil was spotted.
“At the 2nd Incident Management meeting on Monday morning, it was agreed to attempt to clean the stains off the hull of the MSC Apollo while she was at anchor to stop any oily sheen being transferred to the water. The cleaning of the hull could no to be done on Sunday due to rough seas.
“The weather is expected to subside by Tuesday, and this will allow the SANPARKS rangers to access the St Croix Island group. In preparation for the landing of the SANPARKS rangers tomorrow, the vessel insurers have agreed to provide a drone to scan the islands for any oiled birds. This will help inform the planning of any oiled wildlife response by SANPARKS and SANCCOB
“The public is requested to inform SANCCOB of any oiled birds spotted along the coast. Oiled mammals can be reported to the officials from Bay World. More details shall be made as and when received,” said SAMSA
Brief interviews with SAMSA ship surveyor, Ms Mbali Mbonambi and 2OPIC official, Mr Vishal Pragraj while on aerial search for containers recently lost at sea on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline.
A search for cargo containers lost overboard off a number of vessels along South Africa’s Indian Ocean corridor over the last month continues, while two of the vessels most recently affected – the MV CMA CMG Belem, currently in the port of Ngqurha, and the MSC Antonio, now safely berthed in Cape Town – continue with their onboard cargo loads adjustments.
This is according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) in a statement on Monday afternoon and in which it confirmed the safe arrival of the MSC Antonia at the port of Cape Town.
The vessel – a container ship sailing under the flag of Liberia – was the latest reported to haved suffered bad wintry weather conditions along South Africa’s Indian Ocean corridor leading to a loss of as many as 40 containers overboard, and for which a navigational warning has since been issued, along with a public call to report any sightings of the containers along the country’s eastern seaboard.
In the statement on Monday, SAMSA reported that the MSC Antonio had safely arrived in Cape Town on the day following an incident on 28 August 2024, during which severe weather conditions led to the loss of 46 containers overboard and damage to 305 containers on board.
“The incident occurred approximately 29 nautical miles northeast of Port St. Johns while the vessel was en-route from Colombo to New York. In light of the container loss, a navigation warning has been issued to all vessels operating in the affected area.
“The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) urges all maritime operators and the public to exercise caution. We request that any sightings of containers or debris along the South African coastline be reported immediately to local authorities or SAMSA by contacting the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at 021 938 3300 with the position, number, and colour of the containers if observed,” said SAMSA
The MSC Antonio incident followed shortly after the CMA CMG Belem also docked for a safe berth at the post of Ngqurha a few days earlier, having reportedly lost close to a 100 containers overboard due to bad weather, in an area adjacent Richards Bay on the KwaZulu-Natal provincial coast line.
The Malta-flagged CMA CGM Belem cargo vessel at shelter in Algoa Bay, near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape province, South Africa on Sunday 18 Augusts 2024; after losing numerous containers at sea in the Indian Ocean on Thursday evening. (Photo. SAMSA)
At the time, SAMSA reported that the CMA CGM Belem, a container ship sailing under the Maltese flag, encountered severe weather off the coast of Richards Bay on the night of 15 August 2024, resulting in a significant stow collapse and a loss of 99 containers overboard.
The vessel, which measuring 336 meters in length, 51 meters in height, and a draft of 14.8 meters, had initially sought refuge at Maputo Bay but was redirected to Gqeberha.
On Friday last week, the ship’s insurer representatives in South Africa launched a five hour aerial surveillance and search for the vessel’s lost containers after several sightings of floating containers along the Wild Coast area of the Eastern Cape province were reported to SAMSA.
One of as many as 19 containers spotted at sea in an area along the Transkei Wild Coast during an aerial search on Friday last week (Photo: SAMSA)
However, during the search, while about 20 containers could be spotted by the search team in a fixed wing aircraft, it could not be readily established that any belonged to the CMA CGM Belem.
That notwithstanding, a SAMSA representative that was part of the aerial search team said in a brief interview that it remained important that action be taken to locate any containers still floating in the ocean area in the interest of safety of life and property at sea, as well as environmental protection.
On Monday afternoon, SAMSA confirmed the issuance of a navigational warning to vessels traversing the ocean area, as well as a public appeal for reports of any sightings of floating containers.
Said SAMSA: “Efforts are ongoing to search for the lost containers. The safety of the crew, the vessel, and the environment remains our top priority. SAMSA wishes to remind the public of the potential and unnecessary danger that may arise from attempting to salvage any wreckage that may wash ashore.
“We strongly urge the public to avoid handling any debris and instead contact the authorities, who will arrange for the safe salvage and disposal of the wreckage.”
In Cape Town, the MSC Antonia would undergo a comprehensive assessment and necessary repairs, said SAMSA adding that: “Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew, and the ship was able to continue its voyage safely despite the incident.
“Further updates will be provided as the situation develops and more information becomes available.”
Salvage work on the grounded Panama-registered general cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy is expected to progress again this week after yet another bout of a stormy wintry weather that engulfed South Africa’s west coast at the weekend.
Leadership of a salvage team working on the vessel since early July 2024, on Friday cited inciscent poor weather conditions at this time of the year as the biggest challenfe to efforts at off loading the vessel’s cargo – all since lost at sea – as well as its fuel and oils, also some which of spillled out at sea after some storage tanks were breached about a week ago.
The concession came during an onsite national media briefing organised jointly by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and the Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) at the remote location of the beached vessel, some 300km north west of Cape Town.
Represented were various members of the institutions and companies involved inclusive of the salvage and oil spill management companies, vessel insurers, the Deparment of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and others.
In his welcoming remarks of the national media corps of journalists, SAMSA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tau Morwe said the media’s full exposure to the site as well as environmental conditions relevant and impacting the salvage work, was based on an intention to ‘ensure transparency.”
Mr Morwe described the need for complete transparency with the work as essential to ensuring both the media and the general public’s full understanding and appreciation of the conditions under which the grounded vessel’s salvage work was being conducted in the interest of ensuring environmental safety. For his full remarks, click on the video below.
Meanwhile, Smit Salvage South Africa general manager, Mr Richard Robertson described at length the enormous challenges presented by inclement winter weather conditions underwhich the teams were currently confronted by in their efforts to retrieve the vessel’s fuels and oils.
According to Mr Robertson, after managing initially to retrieve about eight (tons) of lubricating oils and low sulphur fuels a week or so ago, days of inclement weather descended on the ocean area, eventually leaving the vessel battered and in the process, breaking into four pieces.
This, he said, led to a breach of some of fuel and oils holding tanks resulting in a spillage that has since soiled the adjacent coastal area and about which a major clean up had since ensued, said Mr Robertson.
It’s not called the Cape of Storms for no reason!
“It is not called the Cape of Storms for no reason,” he said, with an admission that it was daunting task ahead of them to complete the salvage work, after which the wreck would be removed.
However, Mr Robertson expressed gratitude that all relevant parties involved and engaged in the work were fully supporting of cooperative with each other, inclusive of the local community whose +200 member strong team was assisting with the oil spillage clean-up, with support of local authorities.
For his full 14 minutes of the account since the teams started, click on the video below.
More coverage of the media briefing by this blog will follow this article.
This shall include interviews with the vessel insurer’s representative and Managing Director of 2Oceans P&I Correspondents, Mr Michael Heads, Salvage Master at Smit Salvage South Africa, Mr Rudolph Pint, SAMSA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi and Mr Siboniso Ngema, Commercial and Human Resources director at SpillTech.
The grounded MV Ultra Galaxy on its side and fragmented into four (4) pieces after the stormy weather on South Africa’s west coast this past weekend and whose massive ocean water waves resulted in the rapture of onethe caualty vessel’s oil tanks. (Photo: SAMSA)
Pretoria: 30 July 2024
Coastal clean-up operations are ramping up on South Africa’s west coast after an oil-spill caused by the break-up of a grounded Panama-registered general cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy due to battering by massive waves associated with a cold front that enveloped the western and northern Cape regions this past weekend, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported on Monday.
According to SAMSA this immediately led to the deployment of the country’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan to mop up the oil spill in the adjoining coastal area, and which entailed the massing of manpower that initially involved some 125 people sourced from the local communities.
The national plan is managed by the country’s interim Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg), a virtual organisation chaired by the Department of Transport (DoT) and SAMSA, as the co-chair and secretariat.
Launched in 2017, with its membership drawn broadly from across various sectors of society inclusive of State departments, private sector industries as well as non-governmental institutions, it is South Africa’s preparedness forum for joint Government and industry response to oil spills within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.5-million km² across the Atlantic, Southern and Indian Oceans.
In a statement on Monday evening SAMSA said: “Clean-up operations continued throughout Monday (29 July 2024) following the oil spill from the grounded Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy.
“Clean-up teams, comprising of salvors and 125 local community members, have been diligently working to remove the oil that washed up onto the beach, covering an area of approximately one kilometre south of the wreck.
“The heavy swells and wind waves assisted in washing the oil onto the immediate beach, preventing any oil from drifting seawards and further down the coastline.
“The clean-up team will be increased tomorrow (Tuesday) as the operation continues throughout the week. The waste will be disposed-off in a responsible manner, as per the incident specific waste management plan. Because the oil has congealed into tar balls, it is making it easier to collect it from the sand.
Reflecting briefly on how the dreaded break-up of the 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel, built in 2008, occured at the weekend, after a couple or so weeks since its grounding on 09 July 2024, while en route to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with fertiliser cargo onboard, and with salvage work having already begun, SAMSA attributed it to bad weather.
Said SAMSA: “Severe and disruptive weather that battered the Western and Northern Cape coastline and over the past three (3) days caused the vessel to break into four (4) sections and one fuel tank ruptured causing an oil spill on to the immediate beach area.”
Meanwhile, with the oil spill mop up phase ramping up, said SAMSA: “Continuous monitoring of the vessel is being conducted through both aerial and surface surveys to track the extent of the spill and its environmental impact.
“The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry, and Fisheries, remains on standby.
Images of the grounded Panama-registered MV Ultra Galaxy as well as the oil soaked part of the coast line on South Africa’s west coast after the stormy weather this past weekend and whose massive ocean waves tore the vessel apart in four (4) places, leading to an oil spill from one of its raptured tanks. (Photos: SAMSA)
“They are planning to set up a temporary stabilization facility in Lamberts Bay to respond swiftly should seabirds become affected by the spill as a precautionary measure. Active salvage work was paused due to the inclement weather and will resume once conditions allow safe access to the wreck.
“Members of the public on the west Coast, from Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay, are requested to look out for any debris that may wash up on the beach, such as cargo bags, steel hatch covers, and other flotsam.
“Any findings should be reported to SAMSA through the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at 021 938 3300 or 012 938 3303. The public is advised not to attempt to salvage any debris themselves, as proper disposal is crucial to minimize harm to people and the environment,” said SAMSA, further committing to keeping the public updated of developments subject to availability of details.
The Panama flagged general cargo vessel, MV Ultra Galaxy in its beaching position after its grounding late on Tuesday night in remote coastal area of South Africa’s west coast, known as Duiwegat. (Photo: Supplied)
Pretoria: 12 July 2024
Work on extracting contents onboard a grounded Panama-flagged general cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy, now virtually beached almost on its side, in a remote coastal area of the Western Cape, South Africa, north west of Cape Town, is fully underway; says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
Contronted by bitterly cold, wet and very windy weather conditions – and predicted to endure till next week – in a remote coastal area known as Duiwegat, characterised by a patchy, rocky landscape with stretches of soft sandy beaches, teams of salvage workers began gathering en masse, with speed on Tuesday, with the single objective of relieving the stricken vessel of its cargo.
This, according to SAMSA, comprises mainly its low sulphur fuel, hydraulic oils and its shipment of fertiliser.
The work is being coordinated by an Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) led team of officials and experts made up of representatives of diverse groups of stakeholders from both the public, private and nongovernmental sectors.
The IMOrg, led jointly by the Department of Transport and SAMSA, is South Africa’s joint Government and industry preparedness forum launched in 2017 for oil spills. Its membership is drawn broadly from across various sectors of society inclusive of State departments, private sector industries, enviromental groups, as well as other non-governmental institutions.
SAMSA reported in a statement late on Thursday that: “Salvage work is continuing on the stricken Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy, which has gone aground off the coast of Duiwegat just South of Brand se Baai on the West Coast.
“Expert salvage teams are now on site conducting a survey of the surrounding areas and the vessel. All efforts are currently focused on preparing the equipment that will allow salvors to access the vessel once the heavy weather subsides.
“Pollution clean-up teams are already working on removing flotsam from the beaches. Additionally, SAMSA has issued a Navigation Warning to all ships in the area to be on the lookout for any flotsam, as these may present a danger to navigation,” said SAMSA.
According to SAMSA, the 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel built in 2008, was sailing to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania when it was abandoned by its crew of 18 Filipino seafarers after developing an excessive list followed by a subsequent grounding at 22h06 (local time) on Tuesday evening.
A preliminary assessment established that the vessel, positioned approximately 60 nautical miles west of Doring Bay at the time of its rendering a casualty, had a full load of fertilizer in bags on board, in addition to its own low sulphur bunkering fuel and hydraulic and related oils, said SAMSA
After abandoning the vessel, its 18 crew members, all Filipinos, were safely rescued from a life raft and evacuated first to St Helena Bay where they received routine medical attention and attendant hospitality.
With the crew safely rescued, said SAMSA: “all efforts are now fully focused on salvaging the vessel. Further details will be shared as they become available.”
