BBC China runs aground off Wild Coast TERRY HUTSON ANOTHER TWO ships collided outside Durban port earlier this month as strong October winds lashed the outer anchorage. The container ship Umfolozi dragged her anchors and drifted across onto MSC Rebecca, which was at anchor nearby. Damage was fairly minor and both ships reported no loss of cargo or injuries and were able to enter port unassisted. A month earlier the Safmarine charter vessel Nordbeach collided with the container ship MSC Lauren, also after dragging anchors in similar weather conditions. On Saturday night (October 16) the 5 548-gt general cargo ship BBC China went aground off the Wild Coast near Port Grosvenor and has begun spilling oil into the adjacent sea according to eyewitness reports. There were no serious injuries reported and shortly after midnight, with water flooding the engine room, the crew was safely airlifted to the adjacent beach by the Port of the Durban helicopter and then taken by bus to Durban. The ship, owned and managed by Bremen-based Beluga Shipping, was en route to Durban for repairs at the time.
