14/06/2004: The Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)
oil spill response team and members of the
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)
Casualty Response Unit remain on site and
continue to monitor the situation closely
following the incident of the “Kiperousa”
a 14921 gross ton log-carrier, en route from
West Africa to the Far East, which grounded
on a reef off Bhega, 5 miles south of Hamburg
in the Eastern Cape on 7th June 2005.
The Department's Kuswag 8 surveillance aircraft
is monitoring the situation closely and has
reported no further oil leakage from the vessel
today, Monday 13 June 2005. It continues to
patrol the coastline regularly. No oil has
been sighted along the shore.
The risk of pollution in the area remains,
as most of the approximately 250 cubic metres
of heavy fuel oil and 63 cubic metres of diesel
oil remains aboard the vessel.
As part of the Department's precautionary
measures for oil spills, coastal oil spill
contingency plans remain in place for all
beach and estuarine areas both north and south
of the Kiperousa.
The grounded “Kiperousa' sustained damage
to the ship's bottom which resulted in the
engine room being flooded and a total loss
of power and facilities. The vessel, although
at anchor and afloat when abandoned, was unfortunately
blown onto the beach during the night of the
7th, where she still lies aground.
The owners, Sealink Marine of Piraeus - Greece,
have contracted an international salvage company
Tsavliris. The salvage company has deployed
a Russian tug, the ‘Nikolay Chiker' to the
scene where it has attempted over the weekend
to refloat the grounded Kiperousa. Weather
permitting, follow up attempts will continue.
A heavy lift helicopter is also on site and
provides assistance in the transfer of heavy
duty salvage equipment on to the ‘Kiperousa'.
The Joint Response Committee is South Africa's
way of dealing with maritime incidents in
a spirit of co-operative governance. The lead
agencies are DEAT and SAMSA and all other
relevant and affected local authorities and
parties are invited to participate.
A meeting of the Joint Response Committee
was held in Port Alfred on 8 June 2005 at
which all parties were briefed on the incident
and their responsibilities, should the situation
deteriorate. Further meetings are envisaged
to be held on a regular basis.
For further information, please contact:
Captain Saleem Modak, on behalf of the South
African Maritime Safety Authority: Mobile:
083 257 5931
