Earlier this month, a cargo ship that listed heavily and ran aground on South Africa’s western coast has broken apart, resulting in an oil spill. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed the incident while salvage operations were still ongoing.

The Panama-registered general cargo vessel, Ultra Galaxy, measuring 124 metres, fractured into four sections due to inclement weather in the region where it is currently beached. Efforts are being made to contain the spill within the immediate vicinity, and cleanup operations are in progress.

SAMSA reported that the wreck endured 6.8-metre swells striking every 15 seconds, with the relentless force causing the accommodation section to detach from the rest of the hull. This detachment led to several large cracks forward of the accommodation.

SAMSA has already removed several barrels of lube oil and approximately eight tonnes of marine gas oil from the ship's fuel tanks. Over a hundred local volunteers have been enlisted to aid in the cleanup effort.

A comprehensive assessment of the potential environmental damage is underway with the support of aerial and surface surveys.

The Ultra Galaxy, built in 2008, was en route to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania when it encountered trouble in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape Town at around 03:00 local time on July 8, developing a severe list.

It was abandoned by its crew on the next day after developing a severe list and grounding. All crew members were safely rescued from a life raft. At the time of its initial distress, the vessel was located approximately 60 nautical miles west of Doringbaai and carried a full load of fertilizer in bags, as well as low-sulfur bunkering fuel and hydraulic oils.

The vessel drifted until it came to rest off a remote coastal area known as Brand se Baai a few days later. The ship's crew of 18 Filipino nationals have since been repatriated.

Severe weather exacerbated the situation, with large swells causing the vessel to break apart. “At one stage, 6.8-metre swells struck the wreck every 15 seconds, and the massive force of this constant battering caused the accommodation section to first break off, which then led to a number of larger cracks on the hull, forward of the accommodation,” SAMSA reported.

In response, SAMSA has mobilized all essential resources to contain the spill and activated a pre-prepared Oil Spill Contingency Plan. As of Sunday morning, 125 local community members were recruited to assist with the cleanup efforts. Both aerial and surface surveys are currently being conducted to assess the full extent of the spill.

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is on standby, ready to respond should seabirds become affected. The local African penguin population, already designated as an endangered species, is potentially vulnerable

SAMSA noted that an Orange level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves was issued earlier in the week, with conditions expected to persist until Monday, subsiding by Wednesday. Active salvage work will resume once it is safe to access the wreck.

SAMSA has urged the public along the West Coast, from Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay, to report any debris such as cargo bags and steel hatch covers that may wash up on the beach. The public is advised against attempting to salvage debris themselves to minimize harm to people and the environment.

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