During the early hours of Saturday, 12 May 2012, the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre responded to the stranded 50 metre Eihatsu Maru long line fishing vessel that ran aground at First Beach near Clifton.
At the time of the stranding of vessel 28 Taiwanese crew members were on-board the Japanese flagship including the captain’s dog – all persons have been accounted for without any injuries.
The NSRI recovered 19 crew members from the vessel that was taken to a local hotel for emergency sheltering. The rest of the seamen and the captain remained on-board as required by international maritime law. The vessel was carrying 90 tons of diesel and 50 tons of fish.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has ordered an assessment of the vessel and the findings indicated that the vessel did not sustain any damages as a result of the stranding.
The local agents were ordered to institute logistical arrangements for the salvaging of the vessel. By midday yesterday the local agents were unable to provide the authorities with a plan of action to salvage the vessel. SAMSA is empowered to undertake emergency actions in the interest of public safety and environmental risks in terms of the disaster plan that is in place dealing with vessels that sustained damages and seek refuge during emergencies and therefore activated the SMIT Amandla tug boat in an attempt to float the vessel.
A pilot tug boat with supporting fleet were dispatched and arrived at 15:00 yesterday preparing the vessel for floating by 21:00 during high-tide.
The attempts undertaken were proven unsuccessful as the weight of the vessel exceeded the ability of the watercraft fleet to float the vessel. The rope which was intended to tow the vessel by tug boats to the seaside that snapped hampering the salvaging operations.
The appointed marine engineers will design and fit a metal plate aboard the vessel to allow for enhanced tugging conditions later today.
After 21:00 last night all salvaging operations has been terminated and the disaster response teams will resume its actions at first daylight on today.
The positioning and presence of the vessel has the potential to undermine the environmental, economic, and social potential of a key area of the coastline. The City has called upon the Department of Transport and SAMSA to find a solution as a matter of urgency.
The situation poses a risk of a possible oil spillage and oil contamination of the coastline that will result in significant costs that will be incurred.
The Marine & Coastal Pollution Management Branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs has initiated the deploying of inflatable oil barrier booms during the course of yesterday afternoon. These oil booms will serve as protection barrier around the ship to prevent possible pollution should the hull damage or disintegrate as result of the movement by tides.
The incident also has a potential significant impact to the amenity and recreational value of Clifton Beach that poses a health hazard to the public. The beach has since been closed for recreational and bathing activities. A restriction has been enforced for swimming, boating, kite surfing and canoeing/paddle skiing in the immediate area.
The City’s Law Enforcement will remain in place overnight and to keep a watchful eye on the vessel with the assistance of the tug boats that will be on standby.
End
Wilfred Schrevian Evan Solomons-Johannes
Head: Systems Integration & Special Projects
Acting Head: Disaster Operations Centre
Disaster Risk Management Centre
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