Monday 29 June 2009
Cape Town: The last tank of the toxic chemical Cresole has been towed away from near Hout Bay, thus averting the danger to Cape Town residents.
Local newspaper the Cape Times reported that the Svitzer Salvage company, "appointed by Safmarine to find and recover the containers lost at sea after they fell off a container ship this week, was also notified about a general purpose container 11 nautical miles off Green Point, but couldn't find it on Saturday".
"Safmarine spokesperson Debbie Owen said they would continue searching on Sunday for that one and the other 16 containers that were still unaccounted for.
"She said all three of the containers that had washed up on Camps Bay and Sea Point beaches had been cleared.
"Three of the containers belonging to Sasol had contained the toxic chemical cresol."
Wavescape reported on Friday that the storm reached its ferocious peak on Tuesday in Cape Town, with winds over 100km p/h and waves up to 12 metres that caused mayhem with ships. The Safmarine Meru was on its way to Cape Town when it was hit by a massive set, and 21 containers were washed overboard, reported the Cape Times. Two of these tanks containing the highly toxic chemical Cresol have now washed up on the Atlantic seaboard in Seapoint and Camps Bay, and a third was seen bobbing around near Hout Bay.
Authorities closed the beaches and spent hours trying to get a crane in position to remove the tank on Camps Bay, which was finally recovered this morning. Bizarre scenes of silver-suited, gas masked aliens greeted the morning beach strollers, and it looked like a nuclear waste-disposal operation.
It appears as though the tank at Camps Bay has leaked, because there's a nasty smell around. The other tank is being bashed by big sets on the rocks near Queens in Sea Point, and it looks like it may break open. The third tank has now gone missing.
If you're thinking of surfing the Sea Point reefs, best you try not swallow any seawater. If you come across any silver tanks in the line-up, you are advised by Sasol to call 080 011 2890.
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