Oil Spill Clean-Up Efforts Intensify As Broken Cargo Ship Continues To Leak Oil Off South African Coast

South Africa’s coastal clean-up efforts are intensifying following an oil spill caused by the breakup of the Panama-flagged cargo ship MV Ultra Galaxy over the weekend.

The vessel, broken into four pieces due to extreme weather conditions, has been leaking oil into the waters off the western coast, prompting a large-scale response from both local and national authorities.

According to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), one of the vessel’s fuel tanks was damaged by strong waves and a cold front.

According to estimates, the ship still has at least 500 tons of fuel on board.

Salvage operations have been halted due to dangerous surf conditions, but clean-up efforts are underway.

Local residents, along with a dedicated team of 125 people, are assisting in an effort to contain and remove the oil from the affected beaches.

The Ultra Galaxy was grounded in a remote coastal area around 180 miles north of Cape Town.

In collaboration with SAMSA and the Interim Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg), the South African government activated the country’s Oil Spill Contingency Plans.

The plan involves deploying additional equipment and expanding the clean-up workforce to tackle the spill effectively.

SAMSA stated that the weather unintentionally assisted in the containment of the oil spill.

The oil has congealed into tar balls, making it easier to recover from the sand. The leak has reached a region around one kilometre south of the wreck.

The high swells and wind waves have helped prevent the oil from drifting further down the coastline.

The vessel is being continuously monitored using aerial and surface surveys to assess the extent of the spill and its environmental impact.

SAMSA also stated that the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry, and Fisheries, is on alert.

Plans are underway to establish a temporary stabilization facility in Lamberts Bay in case seabirds such as gannets and penguins are affected by the spill.

The incident presents a substantial challenge as the Ultra Galaxy, a 124.56-meter-long vessel built in 2008, was on its way to Dar es Salaam with a cargo of fertilizer when it grounded on July 9, 2024.

Salvage efforts had already begun before the vessel’s breakup.

In response to the situation, SAMSA is requesting that the public report any trash that washes up on the beaches between Brand se Baai and St Helena Bay.

Items like cargo bags and steel hatch covers must be notified to the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC).

The public should not attempt to retrieve debris on their own to avoid potential risks and environmental damage.

Reference: SAMSA

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