Sealand will cost 'millions'
2003-09-15 13:01
Cape Town - The cost of the Sealand Express salvage will run into millions of rands, according to a maritime expert.
The vessel is now berthed at the container terminal in Cape Town harbour after tugs pulled her off Sunset Beach on Saturday afternoon.
Evelyn Holtzhausen, for the Sealand Express's American operators, US Shipping Management, said surveyors were inspecting the vessel for damage.
Divers were also meant to conduct an external inspection, but visibility in the water was not good.
He said when the cargo of just more than 1 000 containers was offloaded, she would go into dry dock for a proper inspection.
If repairs were necessary, they probably would be carried out in a South African shipyard, in Cape Town or Durban.
He was unable to give a figure on the cost of the 3½-week salvage operation, which involved a dredger, a helicopter, three tugs and environment protection measures.
"At this point, insurers are assessing the situation and are unable to deliver a figure," he said.
However a maritime expert, who for professional reasons did not want to be named, said the cost would be "absolutely" in the millions.
He said the costs depended partly on a formula involving the value of the ship, how dangerous the salvage operation was, and the costs incurred by the salvor.
In addition, there was the so-called Scopic, an agreement between salvors and insurers that allowed them to claim a fixed-rate tariff for measures taken to prevent environmental pollution.
- SAPA