/ 17 May 2004

Holed ship on its way to False Bay

With almost 1 900 tons of bunker fuel removed from the holed bulk carrier Cape Africa, salvors are expecting the vessel to enter the safety of False Bay by Tuesday.

The vessel was on Monday morning still under tow, stern (back) first, by the salvage tug Smit Amandla, about 60km from False Bay, said the joint response committee in a statement.

Following a further inspection by a South African Maritime Safety Authority surveyor, the Cape Africa will enter the bay and proceed to what is deemed to be the most suitable anchorage point, about 3km south-east of Simon’s Town.

Once anchored in position phase two of the salvage operation, the repair process, expected to last two to three weeks, will start.

Several precautionary anti-pollution measures are in place, including the presence of the oil-pollution abatement vessel Kuswag IV, and regular overflights by the patrol aircraft Kuswag VIII.

The Cape Africa, which is carrying a cargo of iron ore, is expected to resume her journey to the Far East once repairs are completed.

Her crew abandoned ship after extensive structural damage was report in hold number three. — Sapa