No pollution risk from Sealand
2003-08-31 15:54
Cape Town - There was "absolutely no" danger of pollution from the Sealand Express, beached close to shore at Milnerton, Cape Town, a
spokesperson said on Sunday.
"There is absolutely no danger of the ship breaking up or of
pollution. The ship is in a better position than before and is now
in a virtual drydock. Stress monitors are also measuring ship's
well-being. As for pollution, all the ship's oil has already been
removed," said Evelyn John Holtzhausen, a spokesperson for the ship's
operators.
Efforts to refloat her on Saturday morning and night were
unsuccessful and a dredger will now did a channel from her to open
water for the next attempt at spring tide - nine days from now.
Holtzhausen said the tide was not high enough on Saturday to
pull the ship off and refloat her.
"According to a marine survey there seems to be a build-up of
sand near the bow of the ship."
Salvors, taking advantage of the high tide at 05:00 on Saturday
morning, managed to move the Sealand Express about half a ship's
length forward.
Holtzhausen said that salvors would from Sunday remove as much
of the cargo on deck as possible in an effort to lighten the ship's
load.
Deck containers were currently being unloaded into a skip
suspended from a helicopter.
The ship's load of firecrackers had already been unloaded and
inflammable liquids were next.
The vessel has also been secured from going closer to shore.
The vessel, which grounded off Sunset Beach in Table Bay on
August 19 had 3 700 tons of fuel onboard when she ran aground a
sand bank during heavy weather.
The ship's cargo included unprocessed uranium ore, corrosive
liquids, various chemicals and fireworks.
- SAPA