South African authorities are deploying mitigation measures to prevent a stricken Ultrabulk vessel from causing an environmental disaster on its coastline.
The move comes as authorities suspect liquefaction of cargo caused the 13,800-dwt Ultra Galaxy (built 2008) to list.
The multipurpose ship was en route from Spain to Mozambique carrying ammonium nitrate fertiliser when it developed a severe list leading to the crew abandoning the vessel off the Western coastline of South Africa.
While all 18 Filipino crew members were rescued, bad weather has continued to affect salvage attempts and the ship has grounded close to protected areas on South Africa’s coast.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed it was deploying plans for an environmental salvage, but the weather was hampering attempts to reach the vessel.
SAMSA chief operating officer Sobantu Tilayi said the ship grounded on a sandy, shallow beach, so remained structurally sound but was too deep to be reached from the shore and too shallow for tugs to access.
Potential liquefaction
Tilayi would not speculate in depth about the cause of the list which led to the vessel grounding, but he said the vessel had two cargo holds with one only partially loaded. The cargo is reported to be a fertiliser — ammonium nitrate packed in one-tonne bags.
Ammonium nitrate is susceptible to humidity and can easily absorb moisture. It is also a known ingredient in some explosives.
If the cargo had partly liquefied, it could slosh around a partially loaded cargo hold and reduce stability, particularly when the vessel rolls in bad weather.
Tilayi said environmental salvage teams are prepared for the cargo being washed ashore and are waiting to get to the vessel when the weather improves. He also said the vessel had lost all of its cargo hatches and some were still afloat, posing a potential navigation risk.
He was less sure about the ability to easily pull the vessel off the beach, but South African law says it has to be removed or at least sunk below the water line.
“We are fortunate that the vessel beached in a fairly sandy beach and I think that is the reason she’s managed to stay intact,” he said.
“Can we refloat the ship? That becomes a very difficult question at this stage. We don’t have enough water depth, and it’s a gradually receding beach so I am not sure we can come close enough to the vessel to pull it off.”
Tilayi said that salvage operations are focused on the cargo, fuel and other oils on the ship.
“But it is going to be a challenge to get it to float,” he said. “We will look at all potential means including using explosives if it becomes necessary, we have done that before.”
