Salvors waiting for high tide

2003-08-30 15:13

Cape Town - Salvors attempting to refloat the stricken Sealand Express - beached close to shore in Milnerton, Cape Town - were on Saturday afternoon patiently waiting for the 17:00 high tide in order to try again to refloat the ship.

"At 19:00 we will attach four tugs to the ship and again try and free her," Evelyn John Holtzhausen, a spokesperson for the ship's operators, said.

"At this stage the ship's nose is pointing more in the direction of the harbour."

Salvors, taking advantage of the high tide at 5am on Saturday morning, managed to move the Sealand Express about half a ship's length forward.

Holtzhausen said that in the meanwhile operators would keep the tow wires attached to the ship from three tugs - Pacific Ariki, Pacific Brigand and Pacific Worker - in place.

The tugs, with a combined bollard pull of 400 tons, put strain on the tow wires so as to prevent the ship from becoming too lively during the deballasting process.

The vessel, which grounded off Sunset Beach in Table Bay on August 19 had 3 700 tons of fuel onboard when she ran aground a sand bank during heavy weather. All has been removed.

Stress monitors fitted to the ship's hull have indicated her condition is still sound.

The ship's cargo includes uranium ore, corrosive liquids, various chemicals and fireworks.

- SAPA