Tug mishap delays Safmarine vessel in PE

Ed Richardson THE Safmarine Zambezi sailed for Cape Town from Port Elizabeth harbour last Friday (March 26) after a tug punctured its number three fuel oil tank three days earlier. Tino Drenger, spokesperson for E.R. Schiffahrt GmbH & Cie, which manages the Safmarine Zambezi, told FTW “the owners in cooperation with classification society, repairers and insurers and in coordination with time charterers Safmarine have taken all necessary measures to minimise damages and interruption of service.” The vessel was struck by a tug boat during manoeuvring at the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal in the early hours of Tuesday morning. PE harbour authorities mopped up five tons of oil which were spilled as a result of the accident. The vessel operates on Safmarine’s weekly named-day America Express Container Service between southern Africa and North America. It will be delayed in Cape Town for five days during which repairs will be made.