Holed tanker to be salvaged
2004-04-30 12:33
Cape Town - A decision has been taken to salvage the holed Taiwanese bulk carrier which is being held off the Cape coast, a spokesperson for her owners said on Friday.
Smit Marine had been appointed as salvors for the vessel, the Cape Africa, the spokesperson, James Mackenzie, said.
"They are presently working to come up with a plan," he said. "They will submit that to the maritime safety authorities, and they will go from there."
The 150 000 ton vessel, on its way from Brazil to Japan with a cargo of iron ore, sent out a distress signal on Monday after a hole was discovered near her bow.
She was taken in tow by a salvage tug, the Smit Amandla, which is keeping her some 130 nautical miles west of Cape Town because of the pollution risk she poses.
Her crew has been evacuated, and she has been visited by a salvage team.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) said in a statement on Friday that it would require all the fuel oil on the ship "bar the unpumpables", be removed before she was allowed to approach the coast for repairs.
The Cape Africa was reported to be carrying 1 800 tons of heavy fuel.
- SAPA