SHIPWRECK RESCUE DRAMA

NEWS FLASH

At the public meeting this evening, residents were informed by authorities that Potassium Nitrate is not the only cargo on board the grounded ship, that there will be some oil spillage, and that there is a possibility of the vessel breaking up.

* The cargo of fertiliser consists of 7 600 tons of bulk (loose) Potassium Nitrate, 3 400 tons of bagged Potassium Chloride and 3 400 tons of bagged Potassium Sulfate. According to Dr Lyn Jackson, of the South African Dept. of Environment Affairs, the Potassium Nitrate is "probably the most hazardous" of the cargo.

* The prime objective at this stage is to remove the oil: the ship was carrying 190 tons of oil, 35 tons of diesel, 14 tons of engine oil, and between 30 and 37 tons of what was described as an oil like "treacle or tar". This thick oil is in a starboard compartment at the front of the ship and has not yet been accessed.

* The oil which presented the greatest risk has been transferred from bunkers in the lowest part of the ship on the starboard side, to storage tanks above the water line, greatly reducing the possibility of major oil pollution. These lower tanks from which it was pumped "were broached" and are now full of water, with the "remaining oil probably floating on top", according to Captain Dave Main, representing the salvors, Smit Pentow Marine. It is this floating oil which will at some stage come ashore.

* The salvors believe the best option of removing the remaining oil, is via transfer to the Ocean Pride, a small tender which can carry 60 tons of load. One such load has already been successfully delivered to Hout Bay harbour. It will still take 2 and a half loads to remove the remaining oil off the ship.

* The diesel will remian on board, as it is used to fire the generators.

* The ship appears to be "hogged" - a maritime term for bent or bowed along the horizontal plain. This is "normal" for ships at sea, but could be a problem with the Ikan Tanda. If she is removed, the "hog" may be so severe that she could buckle into a V shape and break up.

* The lower 5 and a half metres of cargo is wet and damaged. Salvors and the Dept. Environment Affairs are still looking at the best way to dispose of the cargo. If it were to be taken ashore in a slurry mixture, it would require almost 5 000 truck loads and many weeks work to remove it all. It appears that pumping a slurry out to sea is regarded as the most likely way of disposal. However, it was stressed there was no final decision on the cargo, as the oil remained the area of prime concern.

* Residents felt that there should be full consultation with them on how to remove the cargo, and reminded the authorities of the consequences of high levels of nitrates in sea water.

* About half the cargo will need to be discharged before salvors are in a position where they may be able to pull the ship off the reef.

* A naval architect will inspect the ship tomorrow to determine how much cargo must be removed. This inspection will also reveal whether the Ikan Tanda has "broken her back" - a factor which would classify the ship as a wreck.

* Salvors hope to use the break in the rough weather over the next couple of days to continue removing oil. If this is unsuccessful, SAMSA (SA Maritime Safety Authority) say they will want the salvors to test and then possibly pursue the option of ship to shore transfer of the oil.

RESIDENTS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY 11.09.2001 @ 18h00

"The three interest groups in Scarborough, namely the SRRA, SCG and MEET has requested an information sharing meeting with Department of Environmental Affairs, Disaster Management and Pentow Marine to clarify isssues of concern so that the residents can be brought up to date with the correct information.

Clare Du Plooy,commuication officer of Pentow Marine has confirmed that the meeting will take place at 6.00pm tomorrow ( Tuesday 11 September 2001) at the Scarborough Community Centre.Dr. Lyn Jackson from the Department of Environmental Affairs will also be present to answer questions on the Potassium Nitrate issue. Mr. Len Labuschage,South Peninsula Disaster Manager will also be present.

The meeting is for Scarborough Residents only and not open to the press/media.

For further details please contact:
Janis Corr Marine Environmental Education Trust 780 1353
Elze Olivier - Chairperson of the SRRA 083 357 4747
Ivan Groenhof - Scarborough Conservation Group 780 1500

FEEDBACK

Thanks to those who have mailed us about our coverage of these events. Here are a few of our reader's comments:

The IKAN TANDA will prove to be our greatest test as a community yet. Lets stand together in ensuring the ongoing protection of our fragile Marine Environment. See you at the meeting. Terry Corr (MEET)

Russell, Many thanks for sending the link to the Ikan Tanda webpage. When I first saw the location of Scarborough, I thought "ARGHH ! How come I didn't hear of that ? - then I realised it was Scarborough, RSA, not Scarborough UK !!! The photos you have on the webpage are very dramatic, and really give a true sense of the power of the sea. Russell, I would strongly advise to try and find out which P&I club the vessel was entered into. It is the vessel's P&I club that should respond to liability claims that local residents may lodge against the shipowner. P&I is there to "protect the shipowner from liabilites he incurs arising out of his ownership of the vessel". If your fears about the Potassium Nitrate become real, then someone is gonna have to pay..... You'd better also hope that Pentow Marine manage to get the fuel oil off. MDO is strong stuff, and whereas crude oil breaks up very quickly in the sea, MDO tends to be much more of problem. I wouldn't dream of asking right now, when the vessel is causing so much grief, but after it (hopefully) is salvaged successfully, I would dearly love to display a photo or two (obviously with the appropriate acknowledgement and links). Fingers crossed that Pentow (good salvors, so if anyone can get her off......) succeed. Regards Steve Harris

Hi there Mike, Thank you for keeping us so well informed - most important is your objective reporting and the pics are fabulous. Glynn Katzin West Beach

Well done on the excellent ship coverage. It does seem that 'they' are making frustratingly slow progress considering how bad things could get if it went wrong? I'm optimistic that there won't be a spill, as the ship seems pretty solidly stuck. I haven't read the material on the fertiliser yet, but that sounds like a bad idea to dump it? Matthew Swart, Scarborough

You are doing a fantastic job!! I no longer need to brave the foul weather and wander down to the beach to see what is happening - I simply need to go into the e-gnu.com site - thank you so much. I have mailed the address to family and friends abroad so that they can keep up with what's happening via your excellent photo's and script, instead of me having to do same. Keep up the brilliant coverage!! Regards Tracy Middlebrook Scarborough

Very impressed your coverage, thanks Gnu for immediate website pictures. No news on English tv, so noone aware of drama off your coast. Sorry about onlookers, hope coast recovers, been there, beautiful. Living it all with you and fingers crossed for minimal damage, weather permitting. Thanks - Shelagh and Malcolm, Gt Missenden, England

Hi Mike. I would like to thank you for your wonderful effort to keep this saga "live" on the internet. My family and I have access to a family home in Seagull Road and have spent 1000's of hours in Scarborough, mostly on the beach. We are now living in the UK and really miss the place. Having heard about the shipwreck, I found your site (via iafrica) and have spent many hours keeping up as the drama unfolds. Keep up the good work. Regards Colin and family.

Hi Mike We are ex-'Scarbie' residents - our thought and prayers are with you all in this devastation. Thanks for the wonderful website please keep it updated. Regards Craig Adams FUTURISTIX (PTY) LTD Western/Northern Cape Regional Manager

Hi Thanks for keeping us up to date about the ship, I'm in Sydney Australia but have a home in Noordhoek and am watching the drama with frustration at 1) the amount of ships that run aground on our shores seemingly without any action to prevent a recurrence and 2) the people who should know better and rush down to the site to block the way for the emergency crews, shame on you! Antony Day Mosman Sydney

Dear Editor Hi, excellent work "well done", thanks for the minute to minute up-date on the shipwreck and being so professional about it on the net, keep up the excellent work and lets hope that there will be no more damage done to the coast line, from ex Cape surfer Louis Lincow, Argentina, South America

"Well done on your report of this disaster, you really have shown the usefulness of the internet to inform. Keep up the good work" - Tony Murray, Dublin Ireland

"Hi, and well done on keeping us informed. I'm in Noordhoek and instead of braving the crowds I am logging on every couple of hours to your site to check what's happening. I found the link to gnu on wavescape.co.za. Here's hoping no further pollution takes place"
- Stephen Cruickshank Photographer, Noordhoek Cape Town

"Hi guys thanks for this morning's update on the shipwreck holding thumbs together with helmut, raji, brendon, antoinette & gary that things will turn out for the best - greetings from london-town" - karin & stefan, London UK

"hey... super photies on e-gnu" - Rajhev Rajkumar, London UK

Comments or suggestions about our coverage of the events surrounding this shipwreck can be mailed to info@e-gnu.com.