Captain N.T. Campbell, SAMSA Regional Manager – Southern Region reports that operations continue to remove pollutants from the the MT Phoenix which went aground on the shore at Salt Rock, Durban.
SAMSA were asked to comment on why with the Smit Amandla in attendance did the Phoenix ground and was this an “insurance job”. The following facts are now in our possession;
- The Smit Amandla fired 8 rocket lines to the Phoenix while attempting to reconnect, 6 of these lines have been found on board the Phoenix;
- Two messenger lines were then put on board the Phoenix in order to allow them to pull the towing gear on board. The Phoenix reported that on both occasions the messenger rope “slipped off” the drum end of the winch. Various maritime experts have been consulted and none of them can recall this happening in previous operations, in these conditions it is possible that the messenger line would part;
- The Master of the Smit Amandla had to instruct the Master of the Phoenix to pay out more anchor cable when the vessel started dragging. A very junior officer knows that this is the first action that is taken when a vessel starts dragging anchor.
- It would not be the first time that an unscrupulous ship owner was prepared to sacrifice a vessel in attempt to realise the insured value.
The Smit Amandla Marine salvage crew on board have been suspicious that there is still one person still on board, all the crew were accounted for when they were evacuated from the vessel. Last night a medical kit was left in the accommodation prior to the salvage team being flown ashore. This morning some of the medication was missing. As the salvage team are totally consumed in removing the fuel from the vessel, the South African Police Services will be requested to search the vessel. It is not unusual for vessels coming from West Africa to have stowaways on board.
Contrary to recent newspaper reports the documentation in our possession indicates that the owners of the vessel are either A & L Shipping Inc. of Panama or A & L Shipping of Belize. We have also been contacted by Lloyds Casualty Intelligence of London as they can find no records of the Phoenix, however a vessel of the same type, size and name was scrapped in India in November 2010.
The vast majority of Sheffield Beach residents have been fully supportive of the effort being extended to avoid a massive pollution incident which has led to disruption to their lives.
“SAMSA and the salvage team would especially want to salute Mr & Mrs Don and Carolyn Spier, the vessel is beached directly opposite her house. She has opened her house to the salvage team and her lounge is the operations centre, they are also being offered food and coffee continuously. The fuel lines run through her garden into her house and then to the road tankers. This unselfish gesture is making a difficult operation much easier and we are extremely grateful for her support” said Captain Campbell.
