Storms and strong winds in East London have caused the hull of the stranded bulk carrier Kiperousa to break up, sending about 800 giant logs into the sea.
Terry Taylor, spokesperson for the East London Ports Authority, said weekend storms accompanied by very strong winds and surf had opened the hull up to the sea.
”About half of the logs will sink and half will stay afloat,” he said. ”Attempts are being made to secure the logs and get them to shore.”
Attempts to refloat the 14 921-tonne log carrier were abandoned last month.
Taylor said there was no choice in the matter as repeated efforts to pull the stranded vessel off the Bhenga reef south of Hamburg, using some of the most powerful tugs available, had been unsuccessful.
The ship had been on its way from Gabon to Durban to take on fuel oil before making its way to the Far East, when it ran aground on June 7.
Salvors have since been working hard to beat the sea, to prevent the potentially hazardous scenario that has now occurred.
”These logs do pose a navigational hazard and a necessary warning has been sent out to all ships. There is a danger to anyone using the sea at this stage,” said Taylor.
He said salvors are hoping for favourable winds that would see currents washing the logs ashore.
Dutch salvage company SvitzerWijsmuller’s senior salvage master, Captain Nick Sloane, said all salvors are currently at the scene, investigating the situation.
He could not say what measures will be taken to speed up the removal of the logs to prevent further spillage into the sea until the investigation has been completed. — Sapa