Favourable weather and sea conditions over the weekend saw the total amount of fuel removed from the grounded fishing vessel ‘Elke M’ that ran aground in St Francis Bay on January 6, reach 24 000 litres.
South African Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson, Tebogo Ramatjie said that a helicopter continues to assist operations, and fuel is removed in bulk IBC containers and landed at a demarcated landing site for transfer to road tankers.
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He further said that fishing nets, crates, and other debris are being recovered from the vessel and surrounds and landed ashore.
SAMSA will continue monitoring the operation, working in collaboration with the Incident Management Structure (IMS) which includes Owners, the insurers (P&I Club), municipality officials, the NSRI, salvors AMSOL, environmental management organisations, and other relevant parties.
“Pollutants and Wreck Removal Directives have been issued in terms of the Wreck & Salvage Act as well as the Marine Pollution (Control & Civil Liability) Act,” said Ramatjie.
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He said that the removal of the remaining fuel, together with non-oil pollutants, remains the priority of the operational team.
Ramatjie further said that it is expected that, following the removal of all pollutants, the operation will focus on the next phase, which is wreck removal once a contractor has been appointed by Owners P&I Club.
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