Marine and Coastal Management officials probe SAA fuel dump

Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) will investigate why a South African Airways aircraft failed to notify them about dumping tons of aviation fuel along the coastline after it had experienced problems with its landing gear at the weekend.

Dumping of aviation fuel is controlled by the London Convention, an international agreement for controlling dumping of waste at sea.

Marine scientists say while safety of life takes precedence over protection of the marine environment, in situations where it is not an emergency, aviation fuel should be dumped 10 to 20 nautical miles offshore. This will enable ocean currents to disperse the oily film.

Dumping close inshore or in Table Bay or False Bay would have some negative environmental impacts because the fuel is not dispersed as quickly, they say.

Several years ago MCM asked that airlines or the Airports Company of South Africa notify them when fuel was dumped, but it appears this has not happened. MCM’s official in charge of oil pollution, Yazeed Peterson, said on Wednesday that he was following up on the matter.

MCM marine scientist Larry Hutchings said because aviation fuel was highly volatile, most of it would evaporate before reaching the surface. That which did not, would leave an oily film on the ocean.

The aircraft, SA 262 from Cape Town to Frankfurt, dumped the fuel and returned to Cape Town International apparently because the pilot had forgotten to remove a pin that locked the plane’s landing gear while on the runway.

Source: www.iol.co.za