Coastal Clean-Up Efforts Intensify After Shipwreck on South Africa’s West Coast

Coastal clean-up operations are intensifying on South Africa’s west coast following an oil spill caused by the break-up of the grounded cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) on Sunday confirmed that the vessel had broken into four sections due to massive waves from a recent cold front, resulting in the rupture of at least one fuel tank and causing an oil spill that has impacted nearby beaches.

SAMSA has activated the country’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan, mobilizing around 125 local community members to assist in the clean-up efforts.

The 124.56-meter-long Ultra Galaxy, built in 2008, was en route from Malaga, Spain to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania when it was abandoned on July 9 after the vessel developed a severe list and later grounded along South Africa’s remote west coast in harsh weather conditions. All 18 Filipino crew members were subsequently rescued from a life raft.

The incident comes amid increasing maritime traffic around the Cape of Good Hope, as more ships are rerouting to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

SAMSA reported Monday evening that clean-up teams, including salvors and 125 local community members, are working to remove oil that washed up on a one-kilometer stretch of beach. The agency said heavy swells and wind waves helped contain the oil to the immediate beach area. The clean-up operation is expected to continue and expand throughout the rest of the week.

With the oil spill clean-up phase ramping up, SAMSA noted: “Continuous monitoring of the vessel is being conducted through both aerial and surface surveys to track the extent of the spill and its environmental impact. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry, and Fisheries, remains on standby. They are planning to set up a temporary stabilization facility in Lamberts Bay to respond swiftly should seabirds become affected by the spill as a precautionary measure. Active salvage work was paused due to inclement weather and will resume once conditions allow safe access to the wreck.”

SAMSA also requested that members of the public on the west coast, from Brand se Baai to St. Helena Bay, watch for any debris that may wash up on the beach, such as cargo bags, steel hatch covers, and other flotsam.

The national response to oil spills within South Africa’s exclusive economic zone is managed by the interim Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg), which is chaired by the Department of Transport and SAMSA. IMOrg, launched in 2017, includes members from State departments, private sector industries, and non-governmental institutions.

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