Stricken ship towed to safety

2004-05-17 11:48

Cape Town - With almost 1 900 tons of bunker fuel removed from the holed bulk carrier Cape Africa, salvors were expecting the vessel to enter the safety of False Bay by Tuesday.

The vessel was on Monday morning still under tow, stern (back) first, by the salvage tug Smit Amandla, about 60km from False Bay, said the joint response committee in a statement.

Following a further inspection by a South African Maritime Safety Authority surveyor, the Cape Africa will enter the bay and proceed to what was deemed to be the most suitable anchorage point, about three kilometres southeast of Simon's Town.

Once anchored in position, phase two of the salvage operation, the repair process will commence. It is expected to last two to three weeks.

Several precautionary anti-pollution measures were in place, including the presence of the oil pollution abatement vessel, Kuswag IV, and regular monitoring flights by the patrol aircraft Kuswag VIII.

The Cape Africa, which is carrying a cargo of iron ore, is expected to resume her journey to the Far East once repairs are completed.

Her crew abandoned ship after extensive structural damage was reported in hold number three.

- SAPA