Smit: Safmarine Agulhas fuel removal operation underway

The fuel removal operation with respect to the grounded container ship Safmarine Agulhas began yesterday and to date approximately 120 tonnes of fuel has been pumped from the vessel into rail tank cars located on the Western Breakwater in the Port of East London. The vessel ran aground shortly after exiting the Port of East London on the night of Monday 26th June. The Safmarine Agulhas, located some five metres from the breakwater and still connected to the tug Smit Amandla (the Department of Transports pollution standby tug managed by the South African Maritime Safety Authority) which is holding her off the breakwater following a number of refloating attempts in the last few days