It’s taken long enough for Japanese officials to step up to the plate and offer South African Authorities their assurances that they will do everything they can to locate the stricken vessel’s owner. After a slight mishap overnight, Samsa confirmed to 2oceansVibe a little while ago that salvage experts were putting the finishing touches together for an operation at lunchtime today.

The Japanese embassy said in a statement yesterday:

The government of Japan has strongly urged the owner of the vessel to fully co-operate with the South African authorities and to take urgent actions help salvage the vessel.

The embassy of Japan will continue to co-operate fully with the government of the Republic of South Africa for the expeditious salvaging of the vessel.

The owner has thus far not been located, and South African authorities are currently footing the massive salvage bill.

A short while ago, 2oceansVibe spoke to Sobantu Tilayi, Samsa’s chief operations officer:

I can confirm that everything is in place for today on the high tide.

We had a slight mishap overnight whereby one of the ropes attached to the smaller tug became entangled. But we have resolved that now, and the operation will go ahead as planned.

Salvage experts have welded a plate to the trawler from which they will attach a third towrope, and thereby hopefully lodge the vessel from the shoreline. Work carried on into the night, and approximately 90 tons of diesel has also been removed from the vessel.

The Japanese embassy expressed its “sincere appreciation” to Samsa, the NSRI and the South African government for attempting to salvage the ship and rescue the crew.

[Source: 2oceansVibe, IOL]