Ship Beaches at Ballito

The Phoenix, en-route to Indian scrap yards and carrying a small skeleton crew, spent the night adrift after breaking her anchor, before beaching in the backline this morning.

A high alert was issued by the Transnet National Ports Authority at 7pm last night. Durban volunteers and the SA Air Force 15 Squadron were on standby for the 164 meter vessel, who was under her own power passing the South African Coast. She had put to anchor off North Coast to wait out the inclement weather that struck in the early hours of Monday - a cold front arrived brought 30 knot winds, rough seas and a 15 foot deepsea storm swell.

Following reports that her anchor chain had failed, the Transnet National Ports Authority dispatched the salvage tug Smit Amandla which was standing-by off the Durban coast at the time, to attempt to attach a tow-line and drag the bulk tanker out to deep sea. Attempts to attach a tow-line in rough seas were not possible last night and Phoenix lay close off-shore of Salt Rock.

At the same time NSRI Durban volunteers were placed on alert and the South African Air Force 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter was placed on alert to evacuate the skeleton crew if needed.

eThekwini Fire and Rescue services and SAMSA (South African Maritime safety authority) have dispatched teams to the beach front. Smit Amandla Marine - the salvage commanders - have commissioned Subtech salvors to attach the tow-line from Phoenix to Smit Amandla for the ship to be towed out to sea. The NSRI’s role in today's operation stand-by safety boat while the operation is being carried out.