At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 01 September 2012 reports were received from members of the public regarding an oil spill on the beachfront at Table View.
This morning upon investigation it was established that a thick layer of bunker oil has washed ashore and that large quantities of oil is still in the water in the vicinity of the SELI 1 vessel that ran aground on 07September 2009.
The reaction teams that include the City’s Disaster Risk Management; Solid Waste Management; Sport, Recreation & Amenities; Environmental Resource Department; and the Oceans and Coast Branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs will clean-up the coastline during the course of today and tomorrow.
The marine patrol aircraft of the Department of Environmental Affairs will conduct an aerial surveillance later this afternoon at approximately 14:00 to determine the extent of the oil spill.
It has also been discovered that the one crane of the vessel has disintegrated and it is suspected that it has fallen into the water.
It is suspected that the bunker oil is emanating from the SELI 1 vessel.
The directive issued by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is still enforced that no bathing and other recreational activities are permitted in the immediate area of the wreckage.
The beach has been closed off in the interested of public safety and the public has been requested to stay clear of the area.
It is believed that the rough seas and high swells that were experienced yesterday and extended overnight resulted in the movement of the vessel and cause the oil spill from the vessel.
The City’s disaster response teams will response on-scene until the area has been cleaned-up.
End
Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre
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