South African Maritime Authority in Race Against Time After West Coast Oil Spill

In a critical response to an environmental emergency, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is meticulously working to mitigate the effects of an oil spill caused by the MV Ultra Galaxy, which recently suffered a structural breakdown off the West Coast. The incident, which unfolded during early July amid harsh storm conditions, saw the vessel break apart, releasing its cargo and oil into the ocean.

Local communities have been actively involved in the clean-up operations, with a deployment of 125 individuals contributing to the efforts. Additionally, professional salvage teams and environmental specialists have been mobilized to manage the situation. The West Coast District Municipality and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) are also playing pivotal roles in the remediation process.

Part of the salvage strategy involved the timely removal of eight tonnes of marine gas oil and several barrels of lube oil from the compromised vessel. However, significant challenges remain, as Samsa spokesperson Tebogo Ramatjie acknowledged the need for a revised plan to extract the remaining fuel and the wreck itself in light of the ship's fragmentation.

The ongoing bad weather has compounded the difficulties faced by SAMSA. Despite these adverse conditions, containment measures have been enacted, and surveillance of the spill's impact is being maintained to prevent any escalation of the issue. RAMSA has been thankful that the seepage of oil has been halted, and no significant harm to local marine life has been reported.

Sanccob responded swiftly, setting up a stabilisation facility in Lambert's Bay to provide initial assessment and care for potentially affected seabirds. Notably, the region is home to bird species with high conservation status, such as the Cape cormorant, Cape gannet, and African penguin, underlining the critical nature of rapid intervention.

Preventive measures, including SAMSA's oil spill contingency plan, have been activated for the West Coast zone. The plan prioritizes protection for valuable marine resources, including rock lobster fishing grounds, fishing areas for pelagic and demersal fish, and islands with threatened seabird species.

Recalling a similar event in 2000 when the iron ore ship Treasure sank near Robben and Dassen Islands, leading to a large-scale environmental disaster, current mitigating efforts are fueled by the lessons learned from previous incidents. The thorough investigation promised by RAMATJIE aims to provide insights and advance prevention strategies for future maritime challenges in South Africa's waters.