MSC INES

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Container ship waiting for spare parts to get repaired

The "MSC Ines" which had grounded at Durban harbour due to strong winds on Oct 10, 2017, remained berthed at the New Pier Containrer Terminal by March 16, 2018. The rudder of the ship had suffered damage in the accident. Repairs to the vessel were still pending for the delivery of replacement parts needed for its completition.

Durban fighting with plastci nurdles after container loss

The "MSC Ines" was remaining at the New Pier Container Terminal in Durban harbour awaiting repairs of transom, rudder and propeller, but was too large to travel in the Maydon Channel to the repair yards at Bayhead. On Oct 27 the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) ordered theMediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to conduct an assessment of the scale of pollution following the loss of cargo into the water in Durban Harbour during the storm of Oct 10. The admissions followed reports about millions of plastic nurdles that were contaminating several hundred kilometres of beaches, from Zululand in the north to Port St Johns in the south. It turned out that several containers had been lost overboard off a MSC ship or ships that were blown from their moorings. A total of five ships broke their moorings and had to be secured after four of them were blown away from their berths. Two went aground on nearby sandbanks and another two, both MSC container ships, were blown into the open waters of the bay and toward the harbour entrance, but not before they allided with quaysides and other ships. The "MSC Ines" was blown as far as the harbour entrance channel before going aground across the entrance channel, effectively blocking it to all other shipping. While this was happening, several containers and a number of straddle carriers fell into the waters of Durban Bay. One of the containers, apparently of the "MSC Ines" was filled with sachets of plastic nurdles some of which burst open once in the water. A clean-up by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) recovered several of these packets but others were washed by the wind and driving rain, and later by the outgoing tide, out into the entrance channel and from there out to sea. Containment measures put in place secured several bags of the nurdles and other measures were being taken to deal with the rubbish and other organic material being washed into the harbour. The concern over the nurdles centered around the plastic material absorbing any toxic material it comes in contact with, that the small pellets break into smaller pieces when exposed in the water and that fish and other sea life feed on it believing the nurdles to be fish eggs. SAMSA will undertake the monitoring and oversight role of the cleaining process. MSC will consult with the cargo owners for the technical details of the pollutant plastic. An area survey of beaches up to Umhlanga on the North Coast and Umkomaas on the South Coast beaches was conducted by a service provider accompanied by SAMSA. Minuscule presence of plastic pellets was observed at the high water mark only. Aggressive cleaning approach with a defined search pattern had been agreed upon by the joint response team as a way forward. MSC meanwhile issued a statement saying that it accepted responsibility for cleaning up the nurdles and had appointed a contractor accordingly. SAMSA had conducted surveillance and assessed the extent of the pollution in Durban harbour and the affected coastal areas and that last week it met with the Harbour Master and Pollution Control department, the Department of Environmental Affairs, and KZN Provincial Government and KZN Wildlife. On Oct 26 the two containers that were missing had been located and were to be retrieved as soon as weather conditions allowed.. A team to assess the extent of damage have travelled Northwards and Southwards. Local municipalities will be kept informed to enable surveillance team to access beaches. Reports with photos: https://africaports.co.za/2017/11/01/africa-ports-ships-maritime-news-98/#press https://africaports.co.za/#two

Repair works in Durban after storm wreaked havoc

After the storm was over, tugs of TNPA were able to secure the release of "MSC Ines" from the entrance channel without any reported spillage taking place. The container ship, however, appeared to have suffered serious rudder damage which will require repair before she can resume her voyage. On Oct 15 she was berthed at the City Terminal. More lucky was the tanker "Bow Triumph" whic grounded in the enclosed bay known as Island View after having broken from her moorings and being blown the short distance ashore on the sands off Salisbury Island. Fortunately the ship grunded on soft sand, and no breaches of the hull occurred. Also the "MSC Susanna" was taken to the City Terminal and berthed on the T-Jetty for underwater examination. After she had broken free of her moorings she came into contact with other vessels before the tugs got control. After the inspection the ship returned to the container terminal berth 108/9 where she was working cargo on Oct 15. The "SM New York", which had broken her moorings and went aground on a nearby sandbank where she stuck fast, completed her cargo working and has sailed on Oct 14, bound to Port Elizabeth, arriving off the port on Oct 15. At Island View the "Bow Triumph" was also working cargo, next being bound to Fujairah. Other ships which appeared to have received damage included the "Maersk Vallvik" which was currently at C berth at the Ro-Ro and MPT Terminal, and the French Navy frigate "Floreal" which was forced to delay the scheduled departure from port. The ship has suffered some severe denting along her starboard hull with slight denting or paint marks alongside the portside hull. With all navigable areas of Durban Bay having been surveyed and declared safe for navigation, shipping activity in the Port of Durban was able to return to normal on Oct 13, three days after one of the worst storms ever to hit Durban brought almost all outside activity to a halt. That they did so to a large extent successfully was to the credit of the marine staff at Transnet National Ports Authority. The marine crews comprising pilots and tug captains and crew at the port were meanwhile were praised for the professional and competent way in which they reacted to and handled an unexpected and highly unusual weather condition and emergency. The storm broke in mid-morning with sudden ferocity, bringing visibility to almost nil. Winds gusted to a measured 91 knots and between 100 and 200mm of rain in less than two hours fell across the southern parts of the city including the port. Parts of the quayside also took damage. Several premises suffered flood damage – one of these was Transnet School of Excellence which is situated near to Durban Container Terminal on Pier 2. Some cargo handling equipment belonging to TPT suffered damage at the DCT Pier 1 and Pier 2 terminals and damage to key cargo handling infrastructure were reported from the Bulk, Break-bulk and Car Durban Terminals. A total of eight Ship-to-Shore cranes and three RTGs - rubber tyre gantries - were damaged. Several containers were reported washed into the bay.