Because it was spewing harmful gases into the atmosphere, a vessel was removed from the dock in St Helena Bay as reported by News 24.
The SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) announced on Wednesday that when a bulk carrier’s cargo came into touch with rainwater during discharge at the Durban port, it caused a chemical reaction.
Toxic vapours in concentrated form were emitted into the atmosphere. As a result, the Transnet National Port Authority opted to evacuate the vessel from the port, in conjunction with Samsa and other stakeholders, so that the hatches could be aired.
In a statement, Samsa’s Tebogo Ramatjie said, “Samsa directed the vessel to go to a protected anchorage under the escort of the tug Umkuseli.”
The vessel has a full team of salvors, chemical experts, hazmat teams, and other emergency workers on board, according to Ramatjie, to carefully manage the operation.
In a safe and regulated manner, the cargo will be unloaded into skips, chemically neutralised, and dumped ashore at a designated dumping location.
The vessel, according to Samsa, poses no immediate hazard to the marine environment or people.
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Source: News24
