The MV Seli 1 Bulk Carrier Runs Aground at Dolphin Beach

It is registered in Panama. The vessel's last port of call was Durban and it was underway to Gibraltar. The cargo carrier is 176m long and has 30,000 tons of coal as cargo.

The carrier is reported to be carrying 600 tons of heavy fuel oil and 60 tons of diesel. The Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) Branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs advised that an aerial survey is to be conducted today in order to ascertain whether there is a fuel leak.

The engine room is flooding badly. Oil leakage from vertical ventilation pipes. An assessment revealed that no fuel tanks are ruptured at this stage.

The crew of 25 were safely removed by the NSRI at 01:00 this morning and taken to a local hospital. No injuries have been reported.

The Disaster Risk Management Centre has established a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) on the beach to co-ordinate and manage the situation.

The City's Environmental Resource Management Department has fenced off the beach and dunes and the parking area is restricted to emergency vehicles.

The public is requested to stay away from this area to avoid traffic congestion and possible damage to the sand dunes.

The City's law enforcement units have closed Marine Drive between Visagie Roads and Blaauwberg Circle; Athens Road.

The owners of the vessel have appointed SMITAmandla Marine as salvors.

Divers did an assessment. The vessel appears to be stranded on an object.

A joint operations meeting has been convened by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) at 12:00 today to review the recovery operations.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City Of Cape Town