Salvage Efforts for MV Ultra Galaxy Cargo Ship Underway in Western Cape South Africa

Efforts are underway to salvage the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy, which ran aground in a remote coastal area of the Western Cape province in South Africa. Despite adverse weather conditions, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is leading the operation to free the ship from its cargo, which includes low-sulphur fuel, hydraulic oils, and fertilizers. Salvage teams are facing cold and windy conditions as they work to recover the vessel.

An Incident Management Organization (IMOrg) team led by the Ministry of Transport and SAMSA is coordinating the salvage operation, which involves surveying the ship and surrounding areas. Pollution cleanup teams are removing debris from the beaches, and a navigation alert has been issued to vessels in the area. The 124.56-meter-long cargo ship was en route to Tanzania when it ran aground, forcing the crew to abandon ship.

The crew, consisting of 18 Filipino members, was safely rescued and evacuated to St. Helena Bay for medical attention. Transworld Fleet Management, the managers of Ultra Galaxy, confirmed no injuries and are working closely with SAMSA and salvage companies to salvage the vessel. An investigation into the incident is ongoing to determine the cause, with further details to be provided as they become available.

Source .