Grim weather plagues Cape Town

Howling winds, angry seas and pelting rain turned a usually welcoming Cape Town the grimmest of the grim last week, as the weather hit shipping – those few ships that were moving, that is. The first inkling of what was to come dawned on May 10 when a meteorologist warned of eight-metre ocean swells and more; a pattern that was to repeat itself for the entire week. The ageing tanker, Hector, in ballast with sea water, experienced engine trouble in choppy seas ten nautical miles off Cape Point and when no suitable tug could be found for a tow, managed to make her own way to the relatively safe waters of False Bay to await spare parts from Durban. Also seeking refuge in False Bay were the small reefer ship, Ice Fern, and the handysize bulker, Island Star. A yacht, aptly named Cape Storm, was sailing from Mossel Bay to Cape Town when it was hit by the storm had to be towed to safety in Simon’s Town. Heavy seas necessitated a helicopter airlift of Smit Amandla salvors from the grounded Turkish bulk carrier, Seli 1, where about 9 000 of the original 30 000 tonne cargo of coal still remains on board. SA Maritime Safety Authority regional manager, Captain Dave Colly, says the bad weather substantially damaged equipment used to discharge the coal and that the operation will not be resumed as the cost of reinstating the equipment will be far too expensive for the return on cost. Colly says the team is intent on working toward the eventual removal of the wreck, aground off Blouberg beach since September. A decision is to be taken whether or not to suspend operations until summer. There is no telling what sort of delays ships in the Mother City port are experiencing due to the Transnet strike, now in its second week, with usually up-to-date daily data not emanating. To this correspondent’s surprise, a container ship was seen sailing from Cape Town on Sunday afternoon, whether it was from within the port itself or simply tired of waiting at anchor for a berth, an unknown factor.