EMEA News
South African Coal Carrier Wreck Raises Oil Spill Worries
A coal carrier has broken apart in South Africa's Richards Bay, leaving authorities worried about environmental damage from heavy fuel on board, according to media reports.
The SMART, a 151,279 tonne ship registered to Alpha Marine Corp., had loaded coal in Richards Bay and was on its way to China when it ran aground in rough seas Monday, Reuters reports.
"Tugs tried to assist the vessel but to no avail," the east coast port's authority Transnet said.
"The vessel has buckled and broken in two."
Twenty-three crew members, including the captain, were airlifted off the vessel, and no injuries were reported.
Port manager Preston Khomo told Reuters there has been no oil spillage, but authorities were watching for possible oil damage from heavy fuel, according to Terry Hutson, shipping correspondent for South African newspaper the Mercury.
"The problem mainly lies with the oil on board," Hutson said
He estimated that the ship could have up to 1,000 tonnes of heavy fuel on board, in addition to 148,000 tonnes of coal.
"It is a massive operation to clean up this amount of oil and the risks are high," he said.
An oil spill could cause major environmental damage in the area, said Wayne Munger, community conservation manager at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
"It will affect everything from the fish to the birds, and if it gets into the harbour or mangrove swamps it will damage the delicate ecosystems in place there," he said.
The spill comes as South African authorities continue to struggle with the cleanup of an oil spill from the bulk carrier Kiani Satu, which the Mercury reports is now sinking.
"Of course we are keeping a constant eye on the situation," said Department of Environmental Affairs spokesman Zolile Nqayi.
"Much of the oil has already been pumped into one of the working tanks, and that is where we expect it to stay when she goes down."
The Kiani Satu ran aground off Buffels Bay on August 8 while carrying 15,000 tonnes of rice and had 330 tonnes of heavy fuel oil.
