South African officials are prohibiting the stricken bulk carrier Antaois from coming to within 30 miles of the South African coast until all fuel oil has been removed from the ship.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority is continuing to monitor the salvage of the bulk carrier in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Cape Town. The organization said Thursday that it was rolling out environmental safety measures that requires the offshore removal of the estimated 170 metric tonnes of bunker fuel aboard the Antaois before the ship can come anywhere near the coast.
The Greek-flagged Antaois suffered a fire and flooding in engine room on Sunday while underway from Argentina to the Middle East approximately 870 nautical miles west of Cape Town. All 19 crew members abandoned ship and picked up by another merchant ship that brought the crew to Cape Town. The bulk carrier is currently under tow by the salvage tug Smit Amandla towards Cape Town.
SASMA said the fuel removal is to ensure the safety of the environment.
“The South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) requires the owner to prioritise the removal of the casualty’s bunkers to neutralise any environmental threat before giving permission for the vessel to proceed closer to the South African coast,” SAMSA Executive Head for the Centre for Shipping, Captain Nigel Campbell.
“Until such time as the fuel transfer operation has been completed, vessel surveys undertaken and a comprehensive salvage plan approved, SAMSA has ordered that casualty remain at least 30 miles off.
“The multi?purpose tug Peridot is currently being mobilised from Cape Town, together with specialist personnel and equipment and will rendezvous with the convoy of tug and tow and commence preparations for the transfer of bunker fuel and water, which includes the pumping of the flooded engine room and repair of damage sustained,” said Captain Campbell.
The 27,700 dwt Antaois is said to be carrying a cargo of soya flour and corn. It is currently owned by Amalthia Marine Incorporated of Greece.
Dive into a sea of information with our meticulously curated weekly “Dispatch” email. It’s more than just a newsletter; it’s your personal maritime briefing.
Dive into a sea of information with our meticulously curated weekly “Dispatch” email. It’s more than just a newsletter; it’s your personal maritime briefing.
(Bloomberg) — Russia’s state oil tanker company PJSC Sovcomflot said that US sanctions are putting pressure on its operations, the latest sign that the measures are complicating the delivery of...
March 11 (Reuters) – U.S. crude oil production lead global oil production for a sixth straight year, with a record breaking average production of 12.9 million barrels per day (bpd), the Energy...
BEIJING/MANILA, March 5 (Reuters) – The Philippines summoned China’s deputy chief of mission in Manila on Tuesday to protest what it called “aggressive actions” by Chinese naval forces against a resupply mission...
March 5, 2024
Total Views: 3624
Why Join gCaptain Club?
Be Informed: Stay updated with the latest maritime news and trends.
Connect: Network with a community of maritime professionals and enthusiasts.
Gain Insights: Receive exclusive content and personal perspectives from our CEO.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.