Cape Africa ready for repairs
2004-05-20 14:39
Cape Town - Maritime engineers are expected to start repairing the huge hole in the hull of bulk ore carrier Cape Africa next week.
The ship, which somehow got a hole of about 23m by 5m near the bow on the port side, arrived in False Bay on Tuesday. It is anchored about 3km southwest of Simon's Town.
According to Melanie Gosling on www.rummage.co.za, Samsa's Dave Colly said it was still not clear what had caused the hole.
"It could be so many things and is not uncommon for bulk carriers. Number three hold, which is about 10 000 cubic metres, is flooded. All the fine particles from the iron ore seem to have washed out already, because the water moving in and out now is clean," Colly was quoted as saying.
"The ore, which is in a pebble form, is sitting right at the bottom of the hold," he said.
Divers determined the full extent of the damage before the installation of a cofferdam against the side of the ship.
A cofferdam, which was made in Durban to exactly fit over the hole, has been transported in sections to Cape Town by road.
It will be assembled on the quay at Simon's Town, towed into place and welded to the side of the Cape Africa.
Once the cofferdam is in place, the water will be pumped out, creating a watertight environment, thus enabling workers to do repairs under the water line.
Smit Salvage Ltd spokesperson Clare Gomes said it would take about three days to weld the cofferdam to the ship. It would take another three weeks to repair the hole. - News24/Die Burger
Source: Smit
Graphics: Jaco Grobbelaar