South African authorities are searching for signs of oil in Algoa Bay after a slick was found to be coming from an MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company container vessel.
The South Africa Incident Management Organisation (SAIMO) said a spill is believed to have come from the 6,492 dwt MSC Apollo (built 2002) over the weekend while it was at Algoa Bay anchorage near Port Elizabeth.
Primary investigation found oil-like blobs in the water as well as an oily sheen on Saturday evening close to the vessel and searches were scrambled to see how far the spill had spread.
Further reconnaissance, including spotter planes, has been hampered due to rough weather.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has approached the vessel’s insurer to provide oil spill trajectory modelling from the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation to help focus on a response.
The South Africa Incident Management Organisation comprises SAMSA, the Transnet National Ports Authority, the Department of Environmental Affairs, South African National Parks and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.
While waiting for the weather to subside to allow further searches of nearby coastlines and waters to determine where any oil may be, an attempt is being made to clean the MSC Apollo’s hull.
The weather is expected to ease by Tuesday and this will allow the national parks rangers to access the St Croix Island group where trajectory modelling indicates oil might be found.
According to Clarksons, the Cyprus-flagged MSC Apollo is listed as owned by Athens-based Cyprus Sea Lines and operated by MSC.
The vessel was blamed for a collision in 2020 with a bulk carrier in Chinese waters.
MSC and Cyprus Sea Lines have been approached for comment.
