Tag: International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited

Search on for more containers fallen off a cargo vessel sailing past South Africa this week: SAMSA

Pretoria: 04 October 2024

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) says it has embarked on yet another search for a set of containers lost overboard by an international cargo vessel while sailing along the country’s oceans earlier this week.

However, the set of containers lost overboard by a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) vessel, the MV MSC Taranto, while sailing past South Africa, are empty. In the wake of the incident, SAMSA has issued a navigational warning to vessels traversing the oceans nearby to be on the look-out, and to report any sightings.

In a statement in Pretoria on Friday, SAMSA said: “The South African Maritime Safety Authority has been alerted to the loss of five empty containers from the MV MSC Taranto, which occurred between 01:00 and 04:00 local time on the 2nd of October 2024.

“The vessel, which is currently en-route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, reported that the containers – two (2) yellow and three (3) red -were lost at sea. The exact location of the containers is reported to be have been along the west coast between Mossel Bay and stillbaai.

“SAMSA, in collaboration with other relevant authorities, is actively working on locating and recovering the containers. A navigational warning has been issued to all vessels traversing the west coast of South Africa to be on alert for the floating containers, which pose a potential hazard to maritime navigation.

“Mariners and the public are urged to immediately report any sightings of the containers to local authorities or the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) on 021 938 3300.

Further updates will be provided as recovery efforts continue.

MV MSC Apollo released

Meanwhile, SAMSA also confirmed the official release of another MSC vessel, the MV MSC Apollo that had been berthed in Algoa Bay for more than a week following an oil spill incident which since been contained.

Said SAMSA: “The MV MSC Apollo has been allowed to depart from Algoa Bay anchorage after she was detained following an oil spill in the bay on the 7th of September. A root cause investigation was completed by the vessel’s owners in conjunction with the Classification Society and endorsed by the vessel’s Flag State.

“This investigation resulted in one of the overboard discharges being blanked off and the sea chest strainer cleaned by a local dive company, in difficult conditions at the anchorage. No other damages have been found on the ship’s side structure during the diving inspection.

“The vessel will proceed to her next port of call, where a more thorough internal inspection of the sea chests can be conducted, while in port, by her owners,” said SAMSA.

Regarding the impacts of the oil spill in Algoa Bay, SAMSA said: “The oil spill affected the penguin population on St Croix Island and 13 oiled penguins were captured on the island by SANPARKS rangers and transported to the local SANCOBB rehabilitation facility.

“Very early in the incident one (1) penguin had died due to being in poor condition. The staff at SANCOBB have washed nine (9) penguins to date [with] two (2) more needing additional care before being washed.

“A lightly oiled penguin did not need washing but is being kept with the other penguins and these birds are expected to be released within the next two (2) weeks provided that they pass all their health checks,” said SAMSA.

“The SANPARKS rangers are scheduled to conduct a final inspection of St Croix Island on Saturday to check for any oiled penguins that may have been missed during their visits to the island group” said SAMSA.

Meanwhile, SAMSA also confirmed that the vessel owners had co-operated with the Authorities by paying the fines that were issued and provided a letter of undertaking to cover all reasonable cost of the clean up and penguin rehabilitation.

“These costs are being monitored by ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited) to ensure fairness,” said SAMSA.

End

Oil spill in Algoa Bay under investigation: SAMSA

(SAMSA file photo)

Pretoria: 10 September 2024

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

End.