Ray Smuts STRONG WINDS and high swells put paid on Sunday to the pumping of bunkers from the stricken container ship Sea-Land Express, firmly aground at Sunset Beach off Cape Town, but not before 40% of the oil had been successfully removed. A fourth attempt will be made to tow her from her sandy bed at springtide today when the sea is at its highest. A spokesman for the salvors expressed confidence that she would budge, weather-permitting, but when this will happen is a “million dollar question.” Salvage expert Godfrey Needham told FTW the vessel’s draught would be significantly decreased probably by more than one metre, without the bunkers. The vessel ran aground at 06:30 last Tuesday after dragging her anchor in stormy seas. Three attempts to tow her to deeper water failed after which the South African Maritime Safety Authority ordered that her 4 000 tons of fuel be removed with all possible speed. The American-owned, Maersk Sealand-chartered, ship with an estimated value of $8 US million (without its cargo) was due to berth at the Cape Town container terminal on the day she went aground and was destined to sail on Wednesday for Newark on the eastern US coast She is a familiar caller at South African ports and had come from Durban and Port Elizabeth prior to the incident. The vessel carries a cargo of more than 1 000 containers that includes hazardous material, 50 tons of low radioactive uranium ore concentrate, South African citrus for the US market and a R14 million consignment of famous-brand tequila for off-loading in Cape Town.
