EMEA News
Bunker Removal Completed at South Africa Wreck
Salvors removed about 1,900 tonnes of fuel from a shipwrecked coal carrier in South Africa's Richards Bay and will now begin moving the coal cargo, South African news site IOL News reports.
"Not a drop of oil was spilt during the operation," said Captain Ali Saroor, East Coast executive manager of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
"All the oil is gone and we are now looking at the coal.
"We are putting the platforms and vessels in place now for the coal removal operation."
The MV Smart was carrying almost 150,000 tonnes of coal when it ran aground in rough weather on August 19.
SAMSA said salvors planned to begin pumping out the coal Friday, using submersible dredge pumps to siphon a slurry of the coal into another vessel.
The operation is expected to take several weeks.
Pollution response and fuel removal is being led by Subtech Group of South Africa and SMIT, while potential bidders for the removal of the wreck are on site to assess the situation, gCaptain reports.
Authorities had seek a possible oil spill as a major concern after the shipwreck.
