South African Authorities Warn of Hazardous Debris from Grounded Cargo Ship Ultra Galaxy

South African officials are issuing warnings about the fertilizer cargo and debris from the grounded bulker Ultra Galaxy washing ashore after enduring a week of severe weather. Salvage operations are now able to proceed as breaks in the weather permit efforts to rescue the vessel, which ran aground on a remote part of the Atlantic coast northwest of Cape Town.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that salvage work on the Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy, continued over the weekend. The vessel, with a deadweight tonnage of 13,800, suffered extreme listing during storms off South Africa and was ultimately abandoned before being driven ashore where it remains on its side.

With a temporary respite in the weather, helicopters and teams have initiated a full survey of the vessel and its surroundings. They are assessing the structural integrity of the vessel while developing plans to remove the fuel oil that remains onboard. SAMSA also warns of the potential danger to shipping from cargo bags, steel hatch covers, and other debris washing ashore from the wreck.

Overall, the salvage operation is progressing as teams work to remove the remaining cargo from the vessel and seal the fuel tanks to prevent oil spills. The 18 crew members, all hailing from the Philippines, have been safely repatriated, and environmental monitoring is ongoing to assess any potential threats. SAMSA continues to monitor the situation closely and plans to implement further preventive measures as the salvage operation unfolds.

Source .