According to South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), calmer weather pockets near South Africa’s western coast have provided a crucial boost to salvage efforts for the MV Ultra Galaxy, a Panama-flagged cargo ship grounded and beached in a remote area of the Atlantic Ocean northwest of Cape Town.
SAMSA highlights that the highest priority is to remove and relocate the fuel and oils aboard the vessel to prevent potential environmental pollution in the sea and surrounding land areas.
SAMSA also verified that during the recent severe weather conditions experienced throughout last week, which led to the grounding of the vessel, the hatch covers of the ship were eventually dislodged and separated, exposing the cargo holds. As a result, a substantial amount of the ship’s fertilizer cargo was washed away by the sea.
Salvage work on the grounded Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy, continued over the weekend. The vessel ran aground on the evening of Tuesday, the 9th of July 2024, off the coast of Duiwegat, just south of Brand se Baai on the West Coast.
…SAMSA said.
The ship was deserted by its crew of 18 Filipino seafarers due to a severe tilt. The crew members have since safely returned to the Philippines.
In light of the recent extreme weather, the ship’s hatch covers were dislodged and detached from the vessel, leaving the cargo holds vulnerable. Consequently, a significant portion of the ship’s fertilizer cargo was swept away by the sea.
..SAMSA said.
