Africa-Press – Namibia. You might recall (if you have been following this page for a few years) that a Japanese Tuna fishing vessel, the Fukuseki Maru No 7, got stranded on rocks nearshore north of Henties Bay on 25 March 2018.
The crew was safely evacuated (Photo from the Allgemeine Zeitung) below. After several unsuccessful attempts to free the vessel, it was declared a wreck.
The subsequent breaking up of the vessel was accompanied by some oil pollution at the time. Fortunately the main fuel tanks (and slops) were pumped out.
More than 60 tons of oil were removed, minimizing the immediate potential damage to the environment. However, it was known at the time that more than 10 tons of oils (including engine oils, and hydraulic fluids) remained on the wreck.
By 17 April 2018, it was reported that a “wreck removal order” had been issued by the Department of Maritime Affairs to be conducted “within 90 to 180 days”… Well as we are all aware the wheels of GRN are turning extremely slowly! We are now 1347 days after that order was issued! And finally this morning the wreck was blasted.
However, within hours of the blast oil pollution was reported in the vicinity and oiled seabirds were found on the beaches (together with a large amount of potentially dangerous pollutants and rubbish from the wreck).
So, clearly the remaining pollutants onboard (including the oils) had not been removed, and no contingency planning was in place! Now we are dealing with oiled endangered seabirds to be rescued.
Surely, after more than 1340 days, and the grim reality that a ship wreck is a danger to environment, and that more than three years ago everybody have been warned about this particular wreck and its noxious contents… WHY? Nothing was done, prepared or even planned?
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