NPA launches international search for absconded Umfolozi

LEONARD NEILL AN INTERNATIONAL alert for the missing 133 metre long container vessel Umfolozi has been launched by South Africa’s National Ports Authority (NPA). The vessel disappeared from Walvis Bay harbour on July 15 under mysterious circumstances. If it is not located, NPA stands to lose R1.6m due to it after winning a high court order in June against Seagate Shipping, the company which owned the vessel. The amount is for the damage to the dredger Ingwenya in a collision with the Umfolozi last September. It is now understood that the vessel has been renamed Michael S by whoever sailed it from Walvis Bay. Namport has joined NPA in the search, but stated at the time of going to press that it still had no word on the vessel’s whereabouts. The Umfolozi had been berthed in Walvis Bay since the accident and had been undergoing repairs. It was en route to Cape Town when it crashed into the dredger as it left the harbour. It had remained at its berth without incident until the court order was received, which demanded the vessel be detained in Walvis Bay. Shortly after this Namport received a request from the captain for permission to conduct engine trials. This was granted. However, in the evening of the same day the captain radioed Walvis Bay Port Control that engine problems had been encountered on the vessel. This was later discovered to be untrue, said a Namport spokesman. The Walvis Bay port captain Vladimir Gusev has been suspended from duty while Namport continues with its investigations into the matter.