Concern over ship's cargo

2004-10-18 16:30

Cape Town - There is good reason to be concerned about the cargo of the vessel BBC China, which went aground on rocks off the Wild Coast at the weekend, the Democratic Alliance warned on Monday.

"Only a year ago, the BBC China - en route to Libya at the time - was found to be carrying several containers filled with the parts of sophisticated centrifuges intended for the use in the building of uranium enrichment plants.

"These were listed on the ship's manifest as 'used machine parts'," DA environment spokesperson Gareth Morgan said.

The vessel was also the subject of a search by the US coast guard in Honolulu harbour, in February this year, after a crew member had indicated to officials there might be hazardous material aboard.

"Although ultimately cleared at the time, this ship needs to be treated with caution."

Hazardous materials

Morgan called on Environmental Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk to declare "whether there are any hazardous materials aboard the BBC China".

"There has already been a spillage of oil from the ship... but considering (the BBC China's) chequered history... the effect of the oil spill could be less significant than potential contamination of the marine environment from the contents or remnants of previous contents on the ship."

The exploits of the BBC China had featured in a major speech delivered by US President George Bush in February this year, and had formed the basis of questions put to British foreign secretary Jack Straw.

"The ship is currently off the pristine Pondoland coast in the vicinity of a recently declared Marine Protected Area.

"Apart from this being a significant local tourist destination, many locals sustain themselves from harvesting marine resources along this coast, and have the right to be assured that this ecosystem is not contaminated.

"In this National marine week, the minister would do well to consider whether ships with histories such as the BBC China's, should be travelling anywhere close to our marine protected areas," Morgan said.

Van Schalkwyk's office was not immediately available for comment.

Cargo

According to media reports earlier on Monday - quoting SA maritime safety authority head Captain Bill Dernier - the hazardous cargo aboard the BBC China comprises "small quantities of paint, batteries and bottles of compressed carbon dioxide".

Dernier said the vessel also had 58 tons of heavy fuel oil, 60 tons of gas oil and eight tons of lubrication oil on board.

It is understood the BBC China was en route to Dar-es-Salaam at the time she went aground on Saturday night.

Salvors are reportedly planning to first remove all oil from the vessel before launching an attempt to pull her off the rocks.

- SAPA