Seli 1
Encyclopedia
The MV Seli 1 was a Turkish
bulk carrier
, operated by TEB Maritime of Istanbul
, and en route to Gibraltar
when it was driven aground off Bloubergstrand near Table Bay
by strong westerly winds shortly after midnight on 8 September 2009, having reported engine failure and a snapped anchor chain.
The Panamanian-registered ship was carrying a cargo of 30 000 tons of coal, and 660 tonnes of heavy fuel oil with 60 tonnes of diesel fuel. The wreck was remarkable for the ensuing lack of interest shown in its removal by the owners, the insurers (Russian P&I Pool) and the South African authorities viz. South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Department of Transport, the Department of Environmental Affairs, Transnet Ports Authority and the City of Cape Town. The vessel was branded an eyesore and was clearly visible from tourist beaches and Table Mountain
. It was registered to Turkey's Ataduru Denizcilik.
Immediately after stranding, the Seli 1 was in good shape and capable of being refloated. However, the indecision of the concerned parties led to delays in what initially should have been a simple salvage operation. The ship was extensively damaged by late winter storms, seriously jeopardising any plans to refloat it.
The 25-strong Turkish crew were hurriedly rescued by the launch Spirit of Vodacom of the National Sea Rescue Institute after the Seli 1 had run aground. Removal of the hazardous fuel oil was contested by the salvage firms of Smit Amandla and Tsavliris, both of which claimed salvage contracts. Pumping the fuel took a few weeks during which period the weather remained calm, despite swells that enlarged substantial cracks in the main deck. The coal, which had been loaded in Durban
, was eventually removed, eliminating virtually all risk of pollution. The ship's owners, despite abandoning the vessel, opposed selling the coal to defray removal costs.
On 3 June 2010 the bridge and crew's quarters exploded and burnt, set on fire by the oxy-acetylene cutting torches of a team of 22 salvors from the South African Maritime Safety Authority working on the ship, and who had to be rescued by the launch Spirit of Vodacom. Officials of SAMSA said they would take no action as the situation “could be dangerous”, and that it would be left to burn. The City of Cape Town’s fire chief officer confirmed that the National Port Authority had been notified, and had declined to comment since it was outside normal office hours.
The piecemeal dismantling of the wreck was still under way in April 2011.
A SAMSA spokesman stated they intended weakening the hull with explosives and that with the help of winter storms the vessel should be gone by the end of 2012.
A positive effect of the wreck's position was the forming of straight sand banks that created waves enjoyed by the surfing
community. Dolphin Beach had produced a boring wave geometry before the ship’s stranding, but had now become a popular surf spot, well-populated on most days and had been the venue for a number of high-profile contests. Surfing the wreck involved a long and tricky paddle, and often the water was oily.
On the night of Friday 2 September 2011 an oil slick was spotted on the coast. It is suspected that rough seas caused the wreck to shift resulting in a kilometer long oil slick that washed up on the beach. The Koeberg nuclear power station
was placed on alert due to the proximity of the spill to its intake basin.
Vessel data Length 176.0m, beam 26.0m, 30500-dwt
, IMO Number
7814149, built in 1980, Panama
flag, Callsign 3EHB4
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
bulk carrier
Bulk carrier
A bulk carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have fueled the development of these ships,...
, operated by TEB Maritime of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, and en route to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
when it was driven aground off Bloubergstrand near Table Bay
Table Bay
Table Bay is a natural bay on the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by Cape Town and is at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, which stretches south to the Cape of Good Hope. It was named because it is dominated by the flat-topped Table Mountain.Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to explore this...
by strong westerly winds shortly after midnight on 8 September 2009, having reported engine failure and a snapped anchor chain.
The Panamanian-registered ship was carrying a cargo of 30 000 tons of coal, and 660 tonnes of heavy fuel oil with 60 tonnes of diesel fuel. The wreck was remarkable for the ensuing lack of interest shown in its removal by the owners, the insurers (Russian P&I Pool) and the South African authorities viz. South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Department of Transport, the Department of Environmental Affairs, Transnet Ports Authority and the City of Cape Town. The vessel was branded an eyesore and was clearly visible from tourist beaches and Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top...
. It was registered to Turkey's Ataduru Denizcilik.
Immediately after stranding, the Seli 1 was in good shape and capable of being refloated. However, the indecision of the concerned parties led to delays in what initially should have been a simple salvage operation. The ship was extensively damaged by late winter storms, seriously jeopardising any plans to refloat it.
The 25-strong Turkish crew were hurriedly rescued by the launch Spirit of Vodacom of the National Sea Rescue Institute after the Seli 1 had run aground. Removal of the hazardous fuel oil was contested by the salvage firms of Smit Amandla and Tsavliris, both of which claimed salvage contracts. Pumping the fuel took a few weeks during which period the weather remained calm, despite swells that enlarged substantial cracks in the main deck. The coal, which had been loaded in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, was eventually removed, eliminating virtually all risk of pollution. The ship's owners, despite abandoning the vessel, opposed selling the coal to defray removal costs.
On 3 June 2010 the bridge and crew's quarters exploded and burnt, set on fire by the oxy-acetylene cutting torches of a team of 22 salvors from the South African Maritime Safety Authority working on the ship, and who had to be rescued by the launch Spirit of Vodacom. Officials of SAMSA said they would take no action as the situation “could be dangerous”, and that it would be left to burn. The City of Cape Town’s fire chief officer confirmed that the National Port Authority had been notified, and had declined to comment since it was outside normal office hours.
The piecemeal dismantling of the wreck was still under way in April 2011.
A SAMSA spokesman stated they intended weakening the hull with explosives and that with the help of winter storms the vessel should be gone by the end of 2012.
A positive effect of the wreck's position was the forming of straight sand banks that created waves enjoyed by the surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
community. Dolphin Beach had produced a boring wave geometry before the ship’s stranding, but had now become a popular surf spot, well-populated on most days and had been the venue for a number of high-profile contests. Surfing the wreck involved a long and tricky paddle, and often the water was oily.
On the night of Friday 2 September 2011 an oil slick was spotted on the coast. It is suspected that rough seas caused the wreck to shift resulting in a kilometer long oil slick that washed up on the beach. The Koeberg nuclear power station
Koeberg nuclear power station
Koeberg nuclear power station is the only nuclear power station in South Africa and the entire African continent. It is located 30 km north of Cape Town, near Melkbosstrand on the west coast of South Africa. Koeberg is owned and operated by the country's only national electricity supplier, Eskom...
was placed on alert due to the proximity of the spill to its intake basin.
Vessel data Length 176.0m, beam 26.0m, 30500-dwt
Deadweight tonnage
Deadweight tonnage is a measure of how much weight a ship is carrying or can safely carry. It is the sum of the weights of cargo, fuel, fresh water, ballast water, provisions, passengers, and crew...
, IMO Number
IMO ship identification number
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT and above...
7814149, built in 1980, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
flag, Callsign 3EHB4