More than 200 people are being mobilised to intensify the clean-up efforts of the oil spill from the grounded Ultra Galaxy cargo vessel after recent wintry and stormy conditions on South Africa's west coast caused further disintegration of the wreck.
In an update on 20 August, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) indicated that the vessel, which ran aground on 9 July off the Doringbaai coast, had sustained considerable damage following severe weather and high swells over the weekend.
The ship has now broken apart further and capsized, leading to the release of oil on to a nearby beach, with nearly the entire length of the hull now submerged.
Meanwhile, in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, Samsa confirmed that the CMA CGM Belem had arrived in Algoa Bay over the weekend and was anchored at the Port of Ngqurha.
The Malta-flagged container ship sought refuge in Algoa Bay on Sunday after losing 99 containers overboard near the Port of Richards Bay on Thursday evening.
Authorities are actively working to secure a berth for the vessel as soon as one becomes available.
Ships navigating the area, as well as members of the public, are urged to report any sightings of the missing containers to the relevant authorities.
Asia Shipping Media reports that Samsa is experiencing one of its busiest years due to the significant shift in global trading routes, with a large portion of the merchant fleet avoiding the conflict-ridden Red Sea on journeys between Asia and Europe, opting instead to travel around South Africa’s coast.
