Ship breaking up off E London
2002-07-25 09:58
East London - Pounding spring tide waves whipped up by a westerly wind have broken the back of the TMP Sagittarius stranded off Leaches Bay in East London, the Smit Marine salvage company said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Dave Main said for the present there was no danger of pollution to the coastline.
"Her back broke on Tuesday because she has taken too much
strain," said Main.
The ship's gas oil is stored in the engine room behind the break and was secure at present.
National Port Authority spokesperson Terry Taylor confirmed the break, saying: "The deck plating has cracked right across the sides of the hull (bottom) on both the port (left) and starboard (right) sides."
The ship has constantly been pounded by huge waves since it ran aground on a rocky outcrop last Thursday night.
Main said he could not say if the ship would break further but
that it is taking in water from the swell.
He said the salvage team would not be able to burn any of the
ship's fuel - marine gas oil - until weather conditions improved.
"The oil is not heavy and about 50 tons need to be burnt," he said, adding "this can be done at a couple of tons an hour."
To burn the gas oil, it has to be pumped up to a tank on deck
with the water drained from it. The gas oil is then fed into the
boiler and burnt.
Main also said there should be no air pollution as the wind will disperse the smoke.
- SAPA