10 September, 2012 10 September, 2012

Seli 1 Scheduled For Removal “Before Next Winter”

Weskus local Diran Zakarian and the Seli 1 during happier times.

The now familiar wreck of the Seli 1, which became stranded on September 7, 2009, is set to be removed from the lineup at Tableview “before next Winter” – this according to a report in the Cape Times this morning.

This news follows on from a ‘minor’ oil spill earlier this month, where concerned Blouberg beachgoers were shocked to find a layer of oil coating the shoreline, as well as the oiling of more than 150 seabirds – surprising after the authorities had claimed that the remaining oil was removed from the wreckage.

Last week we reported that the city of Cape Town had already formulated a plan for the removal of the wrecked Turkish bulk carrier, but were just awaiting funding from the National Transport Department before the salvage operation could get underway. This funding, to the tune of an estimated R40 million, has now been granted to the SA Maritime Safety Association (SAMSA) to contract the salvage.

Gregory Player, a member of Blouberg Beach Cleanup, snapped this photo which shows some of the oil that leaked from the Seli 1 earlier this month.

“The department is in constant contact with the navy, the salvage company and the City of Cape Town to ensure that the salvage operation is undertaken as soon as possible.” claimed Transport Department spokesman Sam Monareng. ”

Incidentally, the wreckage has held together some decent banks along a stretch of beach not known for producing noteworthy waves – especially for the SUP riders who claimed it as their own. So with this in mind, it will be a case of gone, but not forgotten for the stranded Seli 1.

2 Comments

  1. Dick
    10 September, 2012 at 3:51 pm · Reply

    really sucks

  2. Brian
    11 September, 2012 at 2:43 pm · Reply

    Ja, really sucks, where are the SUP’s gonna go now – they were nice and contained there for a while on their novelty peak.

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