Bulker breaks in halves in South Atlantic

The dry bulk carrier MS Olivia has broken in two halves after having hit the Nightingale Island, part of Tristan da Cunha (GB), on Wednesday last week, Shipgaz reports. The Greek-controlled and Malta-flagged vessel was on a voyage from Santos in Brazil to Singapore with a cargo of soya beans when it hit the remote island in the middle of the South Atlantic.


The salvage tug Smit Amndla set out from Cape Town on Thursday to pull the vessel off the cliffs but as it is expected to reach the vessel on Monday 21 the task at hand will be very different as the vessel has now broken up in two.


The crew of 22 were rescued by the cruise vessel Edinburgh’s crew by means of rubber boats.


The bulker’s bunker oil has now spread around the small island and contaminated parts of the very rich bird life. The islands administration is worried there are rats onboard the vessel that might come ashore and further threaten the bird life. Baited traps have been set even though the bulker’s operator has assured there are no rats onboard.
(Source:http://en.portnews.ru)