Recovery operation under way after ship runs aground

The ship ran aground on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast

Recovery teams have been removing hazardous materials from the BBC China cargo vessel, which ran aground at Port Grosvenor south of Port Edward on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

This is to minimise possible environmental damage. At least 16 crew members were airlifted from the cargo vessel yesterday, which was said to be transporting steel and aluminum to Durban harbour.

The vessel is believed to have been badly damaged. Gert Potgieter, the recovery team spokesperson, says chances of moving the ship are remote. He says the engine room, its bulkheads and ballast tanks have been flooded and the only option now is to remove the hazardous material.