The Panama-flagged general cargo vessel, Ultra Galaxy, beached on its side in a remote area of South Africa’s west coast since early July, broke apart into four sections over the weekend in stormy conditions with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reporting an oil spill.
Some 125 people from local communities have been enlisted to help in the clean up.
The wreck was battered by swells of up to 6.8 m striking every 15 seconds, and the massive force of this constant battering caused the accommodation block to first break off, which then led to a number of larger cracks on the hull, forward of the accommodation.
The 13,800 dwt Ultra Galaxy was built in 2008. According to available data from Equasis, it is owned by Fujita Shoji and managed by Denmark-based dry bulk operator Ultrabulk. At the time of its distress call on July 8, it was en route to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.