MARINE POLLUTION RISK
MINIMISES AS OIL TRANSFER OPERATION NEARS
COMPLETION
24/06/2005: The risk of marine pollution
at the scene of the stranded ‘Kiperousa”,
is substantially minimised as an the oil transfer
operation which commenced earlier this week,
is nearing completion.
The Department is pleased with the progress
made by the salvors who began pumping the
approximately 250 cubic metres of heavy fuel
oil and 63 cubic metres of diesel oil from
the grounded ‘Kiperousa' onto a receiving
tug, the Nikolay Chiker, earlier this week.
The ‘Kuswag1', the Department's oil pollution
abatement vessel, remains on standby and the
Department anti pollution patrol aircraft,
‘Kuswag 8', continues to undertake regular
aerial surveillance of the area. No further
oil leaks have been reported.
The protective boom across the Mtana Estuary
located north of the grounded ‘Kiperousa which
was set up by the departments' response team,
would remain in place until the vessel is
successfully re-floated. Our response team
remains at site, monitoring the situation
closely.
The salvors are continuing with attempts
to re-float the grounded vessel. The removal
operation of the deck cargo has commenced
in preparation for the next re-floating attempt
scheduled for later today when swell conditions
are expected to be favourable.
The “Kiperousa” a 14921 gross ton log-carrier,
en route from West Africa to the Far East,
grounded on a reef off Bhega, 5 miles south
of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape on 7th June
2005.
