Tag: Platform Supply Vessel

LATEST: Grounded MV Ultra Galaxy – oil and fuel removal a lost cause, wreck removal the next target- SAMSA

Pretoria: 23 August 2024

With removal of all remaining oil and fuel onboard the grounded and now wrecked Panama-flagged general cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy, no longer feasible; the salvage effort has smoothly moved onto removal of the wreck off the South Africa’s west coast beach, as soon as possible, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) in a statement on Friday.

SAMSA, in statement in Pretoria, confirmed that a tender invitation to industry had recently been issued, with keen services suppliers’ interest having already been noted from both locally and aboard.

This, according to SAMSA, is consistent with and a follow-through to the authority’s directive to the vessel owners to have the wreck removed from the South African west coast on the Atlantic Ocean.

“As a result,” said SAMSA: “the P&I Club issued an invitation to tender to industry in the last week, with interest from both local and international companies.”

An aerial photo of workers cleaning up the coastal area adjacent the grounded MV Ultra Galaxy on South Africa’s west coast after spillage of oils and fuels recently. (Photo: SAMSA)

On the current condition of the beached vessel now overturned, broken into two distinct pieces, with breached oil and fuel tanks, as well as requisite activity related thereto, SAMSA said: “Following extensive assessments conducted over the past few days, it has been confirmed that the MV Ultra Galaxy has completely broken up due to the severe weather conditions experienced last weekend.”

Over 500 tons of oil and fuel, as well fertiliser cargo lost at sea due to stormy weather

This was in confirmation that due to incessant wintry and windy weather conditions over several weeks since the grounding of the vessel in early July 2024, all oil and fuel that had remained onboard the vessel had unavoidably been lost as spilled out to sea, and spread out to a nearby beach where it is currently being collected.

The general cargo vessel, MV Ultra Galaxy beached on its size on South Africa’s west coast a about a week after its grounding, and prior to its being teared into pieces by an incessant wintry, windy weather conditions during July and August 2024. (Photo: SAMSA)

According to SAMSA, at the time of the vessel’s grounding in early July, she had a full load of fertilizer in bags onboard. “Due to the extreme weather conditions at the time and the angle she was at, the ship’s hatch covers were dislodged and detached from the vessel.

“Without hatch covers the cargo holds were left vulnerable and consequently, the ship’s entire load of fertilizer cargo was swept away by the sea. As the fertilizer dissolves water, water samples testing was done, and to date, zero reports of a negative impact to the environment has been received.

SAMSA further explained that in terms of the types of fuel the casualty vessel had onboard at the time of the grounding incident, additional to low amounts of hydraulic and related oils she had 332 tons of VLSFO (low sulphur) and 180 tons of MGO in her tanks as bunker fuel.

“Before she started breaking up salvors were able to remove eight (8) tonnes of bunkering marine gas oil from the wreck while the rest of the oil unfortunately spilled after they were compromised due to extremely bad weather and landed up on the beaches directly in front of the vessel,” said SAMSA.

On Friday SAMSA said: “Given the extent of the damage, the likelihood of any intact fuel tanks remaining on the vessel is highly unlikely. Consequently, the initial plan to pump the remaining oil from the wreck with the assistance of the Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) is no longer feasible.

“With all the fuel presumed to have been released and collected on the nearby mining beach, the focus of the operation has now shifted to a monitoring and caretaking phase.

Oil and fuel spill mob-up workers filling a line of trolleys of the discharge near the site of the casualty grounded MV Ultra Galaxy general cargo vessel (Photo: SAMSA)

“Inspections conducted by foot, drone, and helicopter yesterday (Wednesday) indicate that the oil on the mining beaches has been cleaned and that there is no visible oil slick or contamination along the beaches, extending as far down as the Olifants River mouth and five (5) km north of the wreck.

“Cleanup crews remain on high alert and are on-site in full force, with any resurgence of oil only being sighted on the beaches immediately in front of the vessel. Despite the successful cleanup of all oil that was deposited onto the beach on Monday, the cleanup teams will remain on-site for at least the next two (2) storm cycles as a precautionary measure,’ said SAMSA.

Salvage team to scale down, with watchful eye on prevailing conditions

With the casualty vessel’s conditions having now changed significantly, SAMSA said the salvage team would be downscaling their efforts on-site while maintaining daily reports on the condition of the wreck.

“These reports will include drone footage, monitoring of the wreck’s movement, and early warnings for any small pockets of oil that may still be trapped in the hull. This approach ensures that we remain vigilant in mitigating any further environmental impact.

“SAMSA remains committed to working closely with all relevant authorities and stakeholders to manage the ongoing situation effectively. We will continue to provide regular updates to keep the public informed of the progress and any new developments.

“We would like to thank all the teams, including the community  involved for their tireless efforts and  continued support and vigilance during this challenging time.

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Bad wintry weather disrupts salvage work of grounded general cargo vessel off South Africa’s west coast: SAMSA

An aerial photograph of the grounded Panama-registered general cargo vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy taken early on Saturday and indicative of the prevailing extremely wintry weather conditions on South Africa’s west coast. (Photo: SAMSA)

Pretoria: 27 July 2024

A spate of stormy wintry weather has again disrupted salvage work on a grounded general cargo vessel beached off a remote coastal area on South Africa’s west coast, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed on Saturday afternoon.

According to SAMSA in a statement on Saturday afternoon, the prevailing adverse weather conditions now battering the region – and anticipated to last until Tuesday of the coming week – have had the effect of delaying the placement of a specialised monitoring system for the gounded Panama-registered MV Ultra Galaxy vessel’s movement, stresses, and bending moments, due to poor flying conditions.

“Once installed, this system will help determine and monitor the structural integrity of the wreck and guide the safest method to bring the ship upright and remove it from the beach,” said SAMSA, however, pointing out that much progress to relieve the vessel of its fuels had begun successfully.

“Earlier this week,” said SAMSA: “salvage teams conducted dive inspections to recheck the structural integrity of the ship and its fuel tanks, both of which remain intact. The salvors also managed to enter the engine room, bridge, and accommodation using specialized climbing equipment.

“Additionally, a bathymetric survey (water depth survey) was completed in the waters surrounding the wreck. Salvors  also managed to remove several lube oil drums and about eight (8) tons of marine gas oil from the fuel tanks of the wreck,” said SAMSA.

To speed things up, SAMSA further reported that a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) is scheduled to report in Cape Town on 29 July to uplift and load specialized fuel removal heating and salvage equipment.

“The PSV will then depart for the wreck (and) once stationed off the wreck, the PSV will use its dynamic positioning system and two anchors to position itself as close to the wreck as possible. The PSV will serve as a stable working platform, and the remaining fuel will be pumped from the wreck to the PSV via pipelines.” said SAMSA.

A second aerial photo of the grounded MV Ultra Galaxy vessel being severely battered by several meter high waves early on Saturday in a remote area of the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of South Africa. (Photo: SAMSA)

In the meantime, according to SAMSA: “Salvors are closely monitoring the grounded MV Ultra Galaxy, as disruptive weather continues to batter the Western and Northern Cape coastline this weekend. An Orange level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves was issued earlier in the week, with conditions expected to last until Monday. Active salvage work will resume once the weather subsides.

Regarding debris and related matters, SAMSA sustained its call on members of the public on the West Coast, from Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay, “….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 also advised not to attempt to salvage any debris themselves. It is important to properly dispose of any debris to minimize harm to people and the environment.

“The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) remains on standby, ready to respond should an oil spill occur and seabirds become affected.

Further details would be shared as they become available, said SAMSA.

End