DEAT vessel on oil slick standby

THE Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has deployed the Kuswag IV, an anti-pollution patrol vessel, to be on standby from April 29, in case of an oil spill from the Cape Africa which has reported a large hole in its hull. The Cape Africa, a 150 000 ton Taiwanese registered cargo ship, is 200km off the South African shoreline and is carrying 1 800 tons of fuel oil and a cargo of iron ore. According to the department, the primary environmental concern is the threat of oil pollution. Although the ship does not pose an immediate threat, if oil was leaked in any major quantity into the sea, a significant environmental impact could be expected in the event of onshore winds and currents driving the oil slick closer to South Africa. The department says it believes the use of dispersants on a potential oil slick can immediately and safely be used to break up and disperse the oil and lessen the environmental impact. The anti-pollution patrol aircraft, Kuswag VIII, is also being actively engaged to monitor the situation closely. (Lucy Siebert)