City of Cape Town disaster response teams are again today battling fierce conditions in efforts to clean up oil from the Seli 1 wreck at Bloubergstrand. The operation is set to cost at least R40 million.

The AFP has reported that the transport ministry has requested R40 million to once and for all deal with the Seli 1 wreck that has now broken up and spilled yet more oil.

At the time of publishing, the South African Maritime Authority (Samsa) had not responded to 2oceansvibe’s request for information about the salvage operation.

According to Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith:

There’s also quite a large oil slick along the bay. The South African Maritime Authority has advised people not to use the water for bathing or recreational activities.

Disaster teams will attempt to break up an oil slick stretching about 14 kilometres out at sea that has already left at least nine penguins covered in oil. It’s not yet known what else has been affected by the oil spill – the fourth since the ship ran aground in 2009.

Social networks in Cape Town spent the weekend buzzing as to why it took something like this to happen before the wreck would be properly salvaged – given the fact that there was still oil on board. The popular rhetorical question raised was why was Clifton more special than Blouberg when it came to salvaging stranded vessels.

City of Cape Town spokesperson, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, said it was now vital to break up the slick:

The ports authority will assist us in breaking up the slick in order to prevent any vessels from being affected and the delegation of the ships who want to enter the docks. Officials have captured penguins that have been oiled. They will be sent to the mainland to be assisted. The area is being monitored to see if other penguins have been affected.

Long-term studies were already being conducted into the problems these oil spills have had on Robben Island’s penguins, and Sancob CEO Venessa Strauss said:

I think it’s essential that this wreck is cleaned up. We have such a beautiful coast line and continuous oil being wasted in the sea has a long-term impact on the ocean and all the animals’ dependant on it.

The oil spill has thus far affected beaches all along Bloubergstrand.

[Source: EWN]