Tug heads for stricken ship
07/06/2005 17:02  - (SA)  

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Ship sinking off East London

Johannesburg - A tugboat has been dispatched to help a bulk carrier taking on water in its engine room off the East London coast.

The 15  ton vessel with a cargo of logs was anchored about 1.3 nautical miles off the coast, National Ports Authority spokesperson Terry Taylor said on Tuesday afternoon.

The Kiperousa had sent out a distress call earlier in the day.

It was on its way from west Africa to Durban when it ran into trouble, Taylor said.

He said the 180m vessel and its 25 crew were not in immediate danger.

"We expect the tug to reach the ship at about 18:30 this evening," he said.

It would attempt to tow the stricken vessel into port.

The region is notorious for claiming vessels including the SS Waratah, which went down in 1909 with all 211 hands on board and, in recent years, the cruise liner Oceanos in 1991.

- AFP

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