Chamarel has stranded

The cable-ship from St Louis, the Chamarel, that caught fire on Wednesday off the Skeleton Coast of Namibia while returning from a repair mission on the Sat3-Safe cable off the same coast, finally came to rest on the ocean-bed at mile 68, approximately 300 metres from the beach. The fire has finally burned out but is still smouldering. It was also established in the meantime that the crew comprised of 56 members and that all off them are safe as previously reported

Two life rafts that can carry 98 persons each washed ashore on Sunday morning, one at mile 69 and the other at the legendary “Sarah se Gat” fishing spot. Apart from a heavy fuel smell permeating the air, no diesel or oil slick was seen on the beach or in the water by late yesterday afternoon.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fierce blaze was caused by the thousands of metres of burning optic fibre cable that was on board the ship and rumours still abound that there is still a fair amount of fuel on her.

Members of the Namibian police and maritime authorities apparently managed to board the vessel as well but were forced to leave again due to the safety hazard end extreme heat radiating from ther metal deck plates.

A local contractor from the nearby fishing– and holiday town, Henties Bay, was contracted to start with cleaning operations on the beach in the area where the Chamarel has stranded. The beach is littered with flotsam consisting of pre-packed rations, water bottles, pieces of canvas and much more.

- Namib Times