Intensive clean-up on South Africa’s West Coast after MV Ultra Galaxy spill

The vessel, which ran aground, was severely damaged by huge waves linked to a cold front that impacted the western and northern Cape regions over the past weekend, according to a report from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) on July 30th.

According to SAMSA, the Oil Spill Contingency Plan was swiftly activated to address the oil spill in the affected coastal region. This response included mobilizing a significant workforce, initially comprising around 125 individuals from local communities.

The national plan is overseen by the interim Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg), a virtual body led by the Department of Transport (DoT) with SAMSA serving as co-chair and secretariat.

The clean-up team will be increased as the operation continues throughout the week. The waste will be disposed-off in a responsible manner, as per the incident specific waste management plan. Because the oil has congealed into tar balls, it is making it easier to collect it from the sand.

..in a statement on Monday evening SAMSA said.

Reflecting briefly on how the dreaded break-up of the 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel, built in 2008, occured at the weekend, after a couple or so weeks since its grounding on 09 July 2024, while en route to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with fertiliser cargo onboard, and with salvage work having already begun, SAMSA attributed it to bad weather.

Said SAMSA: “Severe and disruptive weather that battered the Western and Northern Cape coastline and over the past three (3) days caused the vessel to break into four (4) sections and one fuel tank ruptured causing an oil spill on to the immediate beach area.”

Meanwhile, with the oil spill mop up phase ramping up, said SAMSA: “Continuous monitoring of the vessel is being conducted through both aerial and surface surveys to track the extent of the spill and its environmental impact.”