Coal Ship Runs Aground Richards Bay

Smart Shipwreck off Alkantstrand Richards Bay. Pic M Mersham

A large 230m ship called 'Smart' caring coal has run aground just north of the main surfing beach at Alkanstrand in Richards Bay. With the large swell yesterday the ship had already caused a beautiful A-frame peak. Maybe this is Richards Bays version of the Seli??

The 'Smart' broken in half.

The long ship has broken about two thirds down, and does not look like it is going to be easy to remove. Being in the bay we can only hope that the salvage guys get out there and remove all the fuel oil and other potential pollutants before Richards Bay lands up with a serious environmental disaster.

If all works out well there is potential for Richards Bay to add to its already great surf spots. I can already see some crackers forming on the next cyclone swell.

If you know any more details please post a comment below.

Coatesman

Phoenix Ship Wreck Pull Off

The Phoenix moments before she left our shores

After weeks and weeks, and much debate over what was going to be the out come of the wreck of the Phoenix at Sheffield beach. The Phoenix was dragged off and miraculously floated! Some including myself were hoping that it would sink some distance from shore and create a new dive and fishing location.

Anyway after 6 weeks and well over 5 million US Dollars later the engineers and specialists got it right. This time there were 2 tow ropes and I am sure a host of other details we don't know about to make sure that everything went to plan.

Early hours of the morning cutting the gang plank off started the proceedings.

What was interesting is that aside from the fact that there was a huge hole in the hull near the engine room, the engineers speculated whether the stern of the ship would be too heavy and cause problems. The countered the problem by pumping huge volumes of air into the effected sections. On the other hand they also said that it would take a number of hours for the ship to sink as there were many bulk heads and other water tight sections still intact.

Its hard to see but the puff of dust on the bow was the winch housings breaking off under the pressure.

The original plan was to pull the ship on the full high tide earlier in the week, but with no swell they took a chance and waited for better swell. So even though the tide was not as high as a few days ago the increased swell height helped rock the ship off the rocks.

The Light bow lifting up in the swell as she made her way.

Once the bow was facing out to sea it took a while for the heavy stern to get pulled free. You could see the bow was light as it lifted over the swells. Once the ship was pulled a safe distance they started to flood the bow with water to balance the ship and towed her over the horizon.

If you cant see the video go to Phoenix Leaving

Here is a short video clip my mate put together of the whole ordeal. Its a classic so check it out. I a sure that there are many happy Sheffield residents at the moment. And although we did not get our reef there are rumors that they will sink her somewhere near Aliwal Shoal.

I guess this is the end of this little saga and Sheffield can now return to its quiet sleepy self.

Coatesman

Phoenix Sheffield Beach Shipwreck Update

The wrecked Phoenix getting pulled off the rocks ... well almost!

On the spring high tide this afternoon the Phoenix shipwreck was almost pulled off the rocks. The Smit Amandlha and a secondary tug almost succeeded in pulling the stricken vessel off the beach. With a combined pulling force of over 290 tonnes they were able to slowly edge the ship off the rock shelf.

The chain seconds after snapping at the D-shackel

The beach erupted in applause as the ship turned and faced out to sea. Only to have the the crowd groan like in a Sharks Rugby match as the chain attached to the bow snapped at the giant D-shackle.

The marine salvage team, running in to assess the situation.

There was a lot of running around, and a marine salvage team shot in on a duck. I guess everyone on the beach was hoping they would be able to quickly hook the ship up again and resume getting it out to sea. At this stage the Phoenix was still pointing out to sea and it was sad to watch each swell slowly turn her back around.

The Aerospatiale SA 330 J PUMA Helicopter removing the salvage crew for the day.

Eventually the growing swell and high tide had turned the ship to past the point where she had been before. It was quiet sad, but hope is not lost. According to the salvage team they will have another attempt tomorrow morning.

The swell is due to pic up and this could pose a problem, but it could also help. Lets hope that the salvage crew get it right and they get the Phoenix off our beach.

Coatesman

Grounded Phoenix Press Release

MT Phoenix, now even more mystery surrounds the stricken vessel.

The operations continue to remove the pollutants from the vessel and to date we can
report the following

• All the drums containing lube oils, grease and other rubbish from the decks have
been flown ashore;
• Pumping of the fuel commenced yesterday to the bladders ashore and then to the
road tankers, it is estimated that some 50 tonnes were taken off;
• The heavy duty pumps finally arrived, having been delayed when the road
transport became stuck in the snow; and were flown on board this morning; this
has increase the pumping rate to approximately 100 tonnes per hour;
• The operation is being slowed due to slower rate of pumping the bladders to the
road tankers against a 40 metre head;
• If the current rate is maintained removal of the fuel should be completed on
Sunday 31 July;
• The work of strengthening the bow is on-going and preparations are being made
to connect the Smit Amandla to the Phoenix before last light today. This is not
an attempt to tow the vessel off the rocks but to stabilize the vessel and stop her
moving on the rocks.

During the operation yesterday the tug Mahaweli towing the bulk carrier Asma 1 to
scrap, requested assistance 24 nautical miles east of Durban. The Smit Amandla was
scrambled to stand by until the Mahaweli resolved her main engine problems. The
weather conditions atrocious with gale force south westerly winds with 8 metre swells.
When the Mahweli regained her engine power the tug and tow were ordered to clear the
coast. The Smit Amanda started her return to the Phoenix.

We have been 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.

Capt. N.T.Campbell

Regional Manager: Southern Region

Tanker Ship Wrecked at Sheffield Beach on the North Coast

Bulk Tanker "Phoenix" aground on Sheffield Beach.

 The carrier the 'Phoenix' was en-route to India to be scraped when they broke anchor late on Monday afternoon. The vessel obviously was having mechanical problems and the help of a salvage tug Smit Amandla was called in to try and pull the ship out to sea.

The stormy seas and heavy winds made the NSRI's job impossible and the help of Subtech's salvage crew came to assist. At around 9am this morning it looked like the tug was pulling the Phoenix shipwreck out to sea. What happened after that is still not known, but by 11am the Phoenix was wrecked on the rocky shelf's of Sheffield beach just north of Salt Rock.

It was quiet a thing to watch the spray from the waves blow right over the helicopters as they came in and air lifted the crew from the vessel. Fortunately there have been no reports that I know of of any major injuries and all the crew were evacuated safely.

The massive bulk carrier now a major feature at Sheffield Beach

 Fortunately because the ship was being decommissioned it was not caring any cargo or substances other than its own fuel and oil. Hopefully this will be able to get removed from the ship before it causes any environmental problems. Not that a couple thousand tonne ship on a pristine beach is not an environmental disaster. One wonders if there is any hope of being able to haul the ship off the rocks and out to sea?

The Phoenix right on our Garrick Spot!

So what now, will Sheffield have a permanent new horizon? With such a large vessel that is probably full of holes by now the chances are probably slim that it is going anywhere.
I suppose we should look on the bright side that its not pouring oil everywhere, and who knows maybe it will form a cooking wave.

Coatesman

Cape Vidal Wreck Disaster!

Here is the news letter published by iSimangaliso the gaurdians over the St Lucia Wetlands Park. It seems that even though the wrecks are outside the MPA they still have say what goes down. Its a damn disaster if you ask me.

Coatesman

Turning disaster into opportunity

South Africa's newest dive attractions - two artificial reefs - have been established near Cape Vidal in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This places South Africa's first World Heritage Site in the company of Australia's Woongarra Marine National Park which boasts the Cochrane Artificial Reef.

Says Andrew Zaloumis Park CEO, "The iSimangaliso Authority seized the opportunity to turn what was a disaster into a tourism and marine research possibility for South Africa's first World Heritage Site.The two rugby-field-size dumb barges, named DAR1 and DAR2, scuttled late last year just south of Cape Vidal are already attracting plentiful marine life in their new role as artificial reefs."

Shoals of fish have homed in on the DAR 2

The barges were wrecked on the beach 7km north of Cape Vidal - one of the most popular holiday hotspots in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park - on October 21 after their tow lines snapped.

The Park was facing a disaster. The barges were marooned on a rocky beach in the Tewate wilderness, not accessible by road, and within the Marine Protected Area (MPA). Apart from environmental damage, like risk to turtle nesting sites and possible damage to King Oscar Reef, they threatened the Park's rarest World Heritage values, it's 'sense of place'.

DAR 1 and DAR 2 ran aground north of Cape Vidal after their tow chain snapped in heavy seas 

The beached barges were declared 'constructive total losses' by the owners. The owner's insurance cover was only sufficient to cover salvage costs if their removal by refloating and towing was completed quickly and efficiently. The available insurance would certainly not have covered an expensive and environmentally damaging wreck removal should they have broken up on the beach from the buffeting tides and wave action.

The Abu Dhabi-based owners and their Canadian agents showed signs of abrogating their responsibilities as it became imperative and urgent to remove the barges out of the MPA. First there was consultation with Ezemvelo, iSimangaliso’s conservation managers, and other parties.

The owner's agents then confirmed appointment of a salvage team with SAMSA, the SA Maritime Safety Authority.

Independent environmental assessments were undertaken resulting in a technical report involving 13 specialists. These included an assessment of requirements for scuttling vessels and best practice review for establishment of artificial reefs according to the recent July 2008 London Convention and Protocol/UNEP guidelines to which SA is a signatory.

SAMSA then directed a salvage company to remove DAR 1 and DAR 2 and scuttle them at approved sites under the Wrecks and Salvage Act. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) authorised removal and scuttling of DAR 2 at the approved site on November 5 and for DAR 1 on November 21.

DAR 2 disappears beneath the ocean

The bathometric sea floor survey identified a site about 2kms south of Cape Vidal and less than 2kms out to sea. This is outside the MPA, in an area zoned for open use. There are no natural reefs within 500m.

Before scuttling the barges, strict environmental conditions and pollution prevention measures were set. Pollutants were removed and objects like hatch doors were taken out to minimise flotsam.

Everything was done with written approval from DEAT, SAMSA and the iSimangaliso Authority, applying national legislation including the World Heritage Convention Act - and international conventions. Monitoring and strict control of this artificial reef site will be done from Cape Vidal.

DAR 1, which is 15m high, lies at 24m, ideal for first-level divers, while DAR 2 is at 36m. The Park's 220km coastline has hard coral reefs from Kosi Bay to Leven Point, 16kms north of Cape Vidal. In the south are rocky shores and flat rocky reefs. As diving is one of the fastest growing sports, a need has arisen for alternative sites to Sodwana Bay and other sensitive dive areas in the northern section of the MPA.

 

The newest dive attraction in iSimangaliso

 

The potential disaster of the barges has been turned into a unique opportunity, not only for dive tourism but for environmental, educational and research benefits. "

Cape Vidal is the Park's flagship tourism destination but until now has had no dive opportunities, with seasonal dips in visitors. There have been repeated requests from tourism product owners and visitors for a dive experience accessible from there. Except for good all-year visibility and ease of access, these reefs will be similar to those created by the Produce and Nebo wrecks near Aliwal Shoal off Umkomaas, and the T-barge sunk by ORI (Oceanographic Research Institute) off Umhlanga.

As the wrecks fall within iSimangaliso, legal mechanisms including a Park Area Notice are in place to ensure compliance. Fishing or spear-fishing are not allowed on or in the vicinity of the wrecks. The reefs are within sight of a controlled launch site and full-time Park compliance staff. A research and monitoring programme has also been tendered.

Head of research at the Natal Sharks Board, Geremy Cliff said the new reefs should have a beneficial role in reducing diver pressure on the Sodwana reefs: "But artificial reefs are known to be fish-attracting devices so they will need to be very closely monitored to ensure anglers and spear fishermen don't target them".

Kerry Sink, manager of the marine programme for the SA National Biodiversity Institute, shares this concern, "however if these relieve pressure on the natural reefs at Sodwana and diversify the dive experience at Vidal, then they have a role", she said.

Advanced diver and underwater photographer Dennis King was one of the first to dive DAR 2: "After just three weeks the whole deck is covered with algae and I counted at least 17 species of fish and shoals of goldies," he said. "With the barges 600m apart and close to Vidal this is going to be an exciting new place for divers of all qualifications."