Tag: Phoenix

Phoenix ran aground on Sheffield Beach near Durban At 9.50AM yesterday the ill-fated vessel Phoenix, which ran aground near Durban, took its final bow about 78km off Amanzimtoti on KZN's south coast.The 40-year-old ship has been in the news since it was stranded on the rocks off Sheffield Beach, just north of Durban, in early July. It was en route to India from Nigeria when it encountered problems and grounded near Durban.The South African taxpayers have paid more than R35m in maintaining the ship after local maritime authorities could not reach its owners.Dirty oil and harmful chemicals had to be transported off the ship to prevent spillage into the sea and destroying fish and other marine life.The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) brought in international and local experts and hired helicopters to ensure the Phoenix was ready for refloating and, finally, to assist in the sinking operation.Two previous attempts had failed, at a cost of millions of rands.But yesterday Samsa officials were relieved when the Phoenix was eventually sunk and rested on the ocean bed, 783m below sea level."We are relieved," said an excited Capt Saroor Ali."This has been a mammoth task."He said four remaining salvage crew members were ...

Having a 15-man skeleton crew on board The "Phoenix" went aground in heavy seas in Christmas Bay near Durban, South Africa. The 40-year-old, 164m oil tanker Phoenix was on her way from West Africa to a scrapyard in India and had a 15-man skeleton crew on board.She was under the control of a skeleton crew as it was headed to India to be scrapped. As the vessel encountered rough seas, the crew dropped anchor to ride out the bad weather.However, the anchor line broke and the vessel began to drift towards shore. The "Smit Amandla" attempted to connect a towline to pull the "Phoenix" to deeper water, but the weather conditions made it impossible.Waves were 4 to 6 meters and winds reached up to 30 knots. Pushed by the waves, the vessel struck bottom some 200 meters from the shore.The RNSI responded sending out three helicopters who airlifted all 15 crew to safety. The company Smit Amandla Salvage has already begun operations, but it is likely the vessel will be cut for scrap where it currently rests.Source: Vesseltracker

A dramatic 22-minute joint operation, fought on a moving ship and against a raging sea It was a dramatic 22-minute joint operation, fought on a moving ship and against a raging sea, pelting rain and howling wind, coupled with the downdraft from the helicopter rotors.With such dangerous, noisy conditions, there was no time for talk between the 15 crewmen from India who had to be winched to safety from the stricken oil tanker, the MT Phoenix, and their rescuers.The crew were very compliant. They obviously realised what was required of them, said Captain Troy Allison, commander of the SAPS search and rescue unit, who was winched down to the ship with Constable Tiaan Kotze, to help rescue eight of the crewmen.While Kotze remained on deck, Allison, wearing a body harness, was attached to the sailors with straps and hoisted back up with them, one by one, to the police air wings Squirrel B3 helicopter.A Transnet National Ports Authority Portnet helicopter from Richards Bay plucked another three men to safety with Kotzes help. An SA Air Force Oryx helicopter and crew winched four more sailors off the deck and deposited them safely on the beach.On Tuesday night, National Sea Rescue Institute ...