Cargo Ship Runs Aground in Popular Garden Route Nature Reserve | Western Cape Government

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Cargo Ship Runs Aground in Popular Garden Route Nature Reserve

8 August 2013
A cargo ship has run aground a few kilometers off the Knysna coast, in the middle of the Garden Route’s popular tourist site, Goukamma Nature Reserve.
 
Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, said the vessel lost power and the anchor was dropped early this morning.
 
All the crew, 19 in total, have been evacuated safely and the plan is for Smit and Amandla to tow the ship to safety. The vessel is stocked with rice. Rescue authorities, including the NSRI, attended to the incident in the early hours of this morning.
 
“It is in the middle of a nature reserve and one of the Garden Route’s popular tourism sites. While there no current threats to life to the environment, we hope the ship is towed soon before this turns into another Seli 1.
 
“We commend the quick response to the incident by the rescue agencies, once again we’ve seen the NSRI volunteers snap into immediate action.”
 
National and provincial authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
Media Enquiries: 

Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for Minister Alan Winde
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365
E-mail: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za