The Seli 1 is back in the news this week. After lying just off Blouberg for nearly three years, while authorities try to determine who should foot the bill for its removal, it has now been determined that the wreck is eroding the beach and threatening council infrastructure. The wreck, abandoned by its owners shortly after running aground in September 2009, has already cost the public about R24 million and now the hidden costs are starting to mount.

According to reports, all the authorities involved agree that the wreck must be removed, but no one has been able to come up with the money as yet.

The city council met with the Department of Transport, as well as other government departments, two months ago to decide the fate of the wreck. Councillor JP Smith, mayco member for safety and security, said that the meeting had been a positive one and that an application would be made to the treasury to supply the funding for its removal. Other bodies, such as Transnet, Environmental Affairs and the Ports Authority, would also be asked to contribute funding.

The city, who has also volunteered to contribute to the cause, is now awaiting feedback from the Department of Transport.

Clearly, this has been, and looks likely to continue to be, and extremely lengthy process.

Another vessel in distress in our waters …. the Cidade de Paraty also hit the headlines this week and has been given permission to be towed into False Bay after developing trouble with its generators about 45 miles offshore last week.

Dave Main of Smit Salvors was quoted in the media saying that it was unclear as to how long the repairs to the generator would take, but it would seem that it is once again SAMSA and Smit to the rescue.

In other news, a R108 million upgrade for 12 of our local harbours is on the cards, but first those responsible for the abandoned sunken vessels can expect legal action from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

The 12 harbours to be upgraded or rehabilitated are: Hout Bay, Kalk Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Gansbaai, Arniston, Stillbaai, Saldanha Bay, St Helena Bay, Laaiplek, Lamberts Bay, Yzerfontein and Hawston. ‘The construction periods for these contracts range from six months to three years,’ said public works spokesman Thami Mchunu to the media.

Other DAFF news making the papers relates to the decision to hire diving companies to recover about 31.5 tons of perlemoen a year in order to conduct a three year research programme. The research is aimed at gathering information on the distribution and size of stocks, as well as the possibility of viable future perlemoen harvests.

They had better act quickly as there will soon be nothing left to research – thanks to our ever busy poachers.

The press kept a pulse on the fate of the dead ship Panos Earth and reported on the decision to sell it by public auction.  The auction was ordered by the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday and a provisional sale date of June 20 has been set.

After a meeting on May 2, SAMSA came to the conclusion that the owner had ‘completely abdicated its responsibilty for the vessel and crew.’  Money apparently ran out weeks ago with the result that the repair costs of approximately $1.8 million were not able to be met.  Other creditors include Smit Amandla Marine and Smit Marine South Africa who are owed an estimated $3 million for services rendered to the vessel.

The remaining five crew members have also received no pay and have been living in appalling conditions while awaiting the fate of their ship.  Court papers revealed that there was no proper sanitation on board, as well as no electricity in the crew’s cabins and very limited food and water.

The money from the sale will be put into a fund and the funds will be allocated to creditors by a court allocated advocate.  Alan Gold, the maritime lawyer acting for the crew has said that he will put in a claim for their outstanding wages.

It would appear that a difficult  and costly situation has been dealt with in a swift and professional manner and that all parties will eventually get what they deserve.  Congratulations to all those involved.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries just cannot make any good news headlines. News that DAFF has yet to sign or renew a contract for onboard observers for the hake trawling industry means that the sector is at risk of loosing its Marine Stewardship Council certification.

The press picked up on the fact that the contract expired at the end of 2011 and that no new contract has been awarded.

The absence of these observers could result in the loss of Marine Stewardship Council certification, which in turn could result in the loss of up to 5000 jobs in the hake fishing industry, as well as lucrative international markets – about R5 billion in economic value, generated through exports.

And, to make matters worse, the anchovy fisheries also appear to be in trouble.  Their scientific survey, due to have taken place in May, has not happened.  This survey is essential.  If the quotas are not set correctly, they will be set at very conservative levels.  Experts fear that this could cost the anchovy industry up to R200 million.

What is happening here?  Where is our minister?  Is there no one willing to step up and accept responsibility for this impending economic disaster and come up with a solution, albeit a temporary one?

Anyone remember the Panos Earth?  It would seem that the ‘marooned’ ship Panos Earth, now under arrest by the sheriff of Simon’s Town court, was mostly forgotten by the press last week, but the ship’s plight was very much on the minds of the crew members still stuck onboard.

Eleven of the remaining crew left the ship on Saturday and flew home to South America on Sunday.  As they were ferried from the ship to the Simon’s Town harbour, they held a makeshift sign saying “Thank you South Africa and Smit Company.’  For some it was the first time that they had set foot on dry land in over four months.

Five crew members as well as a Smit Amandla Marine crew remain onboard.
According to reports, the ship has broken generators caused by taking on dirty fuel.  The repair costs are estimated at R4.2 million.  There is no money.  Smit spokeswoman, Clare Gomes has been quoted in the media saying that they are hoping for a judicial sale within the next few weeks.

Perhaps it was the Panos Earth that prompted the media to take a look at the wreck still sitting in Table Bay and report on the fact that she is likely to see another winter through in her current position.

It’s a position that South Africa needs to address as we head once again towards salvage season and a seemingly increasing number of vessels sail without sufficient insurance to meet salvage costs should the situation arise.