Cape Africa gets lightened

Over the weekend, salvors have begun the long and expensive operation to get the damaged 150,000 DWT Capesize bulker Cape Africa repaired and on her way again. The Klaveness owned 46,996 gt trans-shipment vessel Bandar began removing the iron ore cargo from the Cape Africa, which has been anchored in False Bay, South Africa, for several weeks.

The Bandar is to take 78,000 tonnes of iron ore off the ship, sail to Saldanha, where the ore is to be discharged, and return to False Bay to remove the remaining 66,000 tonnes. By Sunday afternoon, the Bandar had removed 37,000 tonnes and to complete the first transfer of 78,000 tonnes is likely to take five days of good weather.

The intention is to lighten the Cape Africa so that the hole in the hull, measuring 20 metres by five metres, is above the waterline. Another reason for reducing the vessel’s draught is that this will enable her to enter a South African port. Once all the cargo has been removed, the bulker will be towed to a port for repairs.