According to Reuters, efforts are underway at full throttle to prevent a potential environmental disaster along South Africa’s western coastline following the grounding of the Panama-flagged vessel “Ultra Galaxy.”
The cargo ship ran aground near Doring Bay, approximately 300 km north of Cape Town, late Tuesday after listing severely. The vessel was abandoned by its 18-member Filipino crew while still at sea, raising concerns about the risk of an oil spill.
According to Tebogo Ramatjie, spokesperson for the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), salvage operations are proceeding swiftly to mitigate pollution risks and evaluate the condition of the cargo aboard the stranded vessel.
Current efforts are focused on preventing potential fuel and oil leaks, as well as recovering the full cargo of fertilizer bags destined for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Ramatjie noted that despite rough sea conditions caused by recent severe weather fronts affecting South African ports, salvage operations remain unhindered for now.
Earlier this week, Transnet, South Africa’s logistics firm, suspended operations at certain ports due to strong winds and heavy seas impacting parts of the country.
