Salvage operations to resume for stranded vessel

Attempts to salvage the bulk carrier Kiperousa, which is stranded off the Eastern Cape coast, were suspended until Monday, SABC radio news reported.

The attempt to refloat the 15 000-ton vessel would resume as soon as a specialist salvage master was flown in from overseas to assist with the operation.

The Kiperousa was en route from Gabon to Durban to take in fuel oil when it ran aground on a reef off Bhenga, just south of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, on Tuesday.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) said the Kiperousa's load of 250 000 litres of heavy fuel oil and 63 000 litres of diesel oil could enter the water.

Small amounts of oil had leaked from the ship, but Samsa said the slick was thin and was dispersing naturally.

Pollution response teams from the department of environmental affairs were on standby if the leakage increased.

Source: www.iol.co.za