Cape Africa shows more damage
2004-06-02 11:18
Ziegfried Ekron
Cape Town - Marine engineers are building a second coffer dam for the Cape Africa after they discovered more damage to the ship's hull.
The damage to the hull at the No 4 cargo hold is suspected to be the side effect of a giant hole the crew discovered more than a month ago.
A coffer dam has already been built to make repairs to the ship easier where it is anchored in False Bay.
Clare Gomes, a spokesperson for salvage company Smit, said unfavourable weather conditions had made it impossible to attach the coffer dam to the ship's side.
"The swells were just too high up to now for the storage team to begin with the task.
The coffer dam has already been loaded on to a tug and taken to the damaged boat. We're just waiting for favourable weather conditions to attach the coffer dam to the ship."
She says Cape Africa will leave False Bay only at the end of June because of the delays.
Gomes said an inspection had revealed more damage to the ship's side and interior structure.
"The schedule for repairs has been amended to include repairs of these damages," she said. "These repairs will not further dealy the Cape Africa."
Send e-mail to zekron@dieburger.com
Source: Smit
Graphics: Jaco Grobbelaar
- Die Burger