penguins
The number of polluted seabirds could skyrocket as oil leaking from the sunken Treasure spreads up the West Coast
Marianne Merten
Maritime and conservation officials are racing against time to contain the ecological disaster off the Cape coast as oil slicks have spread from Green Point, Cape Town, up the West Coast to Dassen Island, a major African penguin breeding colony.
“It’s already the worst [disaster] the world has known in terms of coastal birds,” says International Fund for Animal Welfare representative Christina Pretorius. “If Dassen Island becomes involved the worst becomes worse.”
While the seabird rescue is likely to last for weeks, the transfer of 900 tons of oil from the wrecked Treasure off Cape Town’s Melkbosstrand is expected to start on Friday.
About 40% of the world’s African penguins are at risk, as well as rare species like the cormorant and African black oystercatcher.
Already more than 10E000 oiled penguins – predominately from the 20E000-strong Robben Island colony – are in treatment at the South African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds base in Rietvlei and an emergency centre in Salt River. A third station is to be opened in Cape Town.
The number of stricken seabirds could skyrocket, depending on the extent of oil pollution at Dassen Island, home to 55E000 penguins. By Thursday 500 oiled birds had been taken off the colony.
The South African National Defence Force is providing transport within Cape Town; navy personnel and correctional services staff are also providing extra hands.
Just over 300 clean penguins have already been released in Port Elizabeth to swim back to the Cape.
In 1994 10E000 oiled penguins were treated after the Chinese-owned Apollo Sea sank with all 36 hands on board in June in what, up to now, was described as South Africa’s worst maritime disaster.
Then Cape Peninsula beaches from Milnerton to Noordhoek were covered by up to 30cm of oil. Oil blackened popular tourist beaches repeatedly for the rest of the year and into 1995.
“The impact of this is definitely greater than that of the Apollo Sea,” says Western Cape Nature Conservation Board CEO David Daitz.
South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) national operations manager Captain Bill Dernier says they are eager to transfer the oil to prevent further spillage in case the wreck breaks up. Also, any change in the current calm weather would hamper the operations.
An estimated 400 tons of oil have already leaked from the Greek-owned iron ore carrier that sank in the early- morning hours last Friday. As recently as two days ago divers again had to plug holes in the hull.
Specialist “hot tap” equipment weighing 12 tons has been flown in from Rotterdam. The underwater hydraulic drill fitted with valves and caps allows a diver to drill holes straight into the oil cargo holds without letting any escape into the sea.
The costs of this transfer and the possible salvage of the 140E000 tons of iron ore cargo will be met through the vessel’s oil pollution liability cover with Lloyds of London. The Greek owners have handed over an interim cheque of $30E000 to help with the penguin rescue.
Although the vessel passed a port inspection last month in Brazil, local maritime law experts say it is common knowledge that issuing fake certificates is widespread in that country. The 17- year-old ship received its “seaworthy certificate” last February.
In terms of International Maritime Organisation rules and domestic sea safety laws, an investigation should be held. Under scrutiny would be what transpired after an initial inspection of the distressed vessel en route from Saldanha Bay failed to indicate the extent of the damage. A diving inspection after the Treasure anchored in Table Bay revealed a hole the size of a five-storey building.
Then Murphy’s Law struck: the tug John Ross lost the connection while towing the Treasure out to sea on the orders of Samsa. The ore carrier started to drift and sank in 50m of water off Melkbospunt.
A decision whether to hold a commission of inquiry will be taken only once a full report has been handed to Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa.