An investigation into an oil spill is underway in Algoa Bay, on the southeastern coast of South Africa, near the city of Port Elizabeth, with initial reports indicating that the oil originated from the container ship MSC Apollo.

The Post-Panamax container ship, built in 2002, is operated by MSC and is sailing under the flag of Cyprus. The 6,500 TEU vessel is deployed on a route between Asia and Africa. Based on the latest information from Marine Traffic, the vessel departed Port Elizabeth anchorage on September 7 and was headed for Coega, South Africa where it was set to arrive on September 12.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said the incident is being investigated by the South African Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) and that the exact quantity of the spill is being determined.

“The preliminary investigation by the response craft, found an oily substance on the water at about 5 pm on Saturday. The launch reported that the oily substance on water was coming from the Motor Vessel (MV) MSC Apollo,” SAMSA said.

“However, due to the onset of darkness late Saturday, further investigation was postponed. During the course of the Saturday evening, SAMSA approached the vessel insurers to provide oil spill trajectory modelling from ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited). This would ensure that the next day’s spill response, would be focused in the appropriate area.”

By Sunday morning, the IMOrg, chaired by the Department of Transport and SAMSA, convened a meeting with key stakeholders, including the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, SANPARKS, and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) to coordinate the spill response.

Containment efforts include sea patrols, aerial surveillance, and coastal foot patrols. Although a surveillance flight on Sunday afternoon detected no oil, authorities remain vigilant. The next step involves cleaning the hull of the MSC Apollo to prevent further contamination, which was not possible over the weekend due to the rough weather, with additional inspections planned for nearby islands.

The public has been asked to report any sightings of oiled wildlife as the situation develops.

An investigation into an oil spill is underway in Algoa Bay, on the southeastern coast of South Africa, near the city of Port Elizabeth, with initial reports indicating that the oil originated from the container ship MSC Apollo.

The Post-Panamax container ship, built in 2002, is operated by MSC and is sailing under the flag of Cyprus. The 6,500 TEU vessel is deployed on a route between Asia and Africa. Based on the latest information from Marine Traffic, the vessel departed Port Elizabeth anchorage on September 7 and was headed for Coega, South Africa where it was set to arrive on September 12.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said the incident is being investigated by the South African Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) and that the exact quantity of the spill is being determined.

“The preliminary investigation by the response craft, found an oily substance on the water at about 5 pm on Saturday. The launch reported that the oily substance on water was coming from the Motor Vessel (MV) MSC Apollo,” SAMSA said.

“However, due to the onset of darkness late Saturday, further investigation was postponed. During the course of the Saturday evening, SAMSA approached the vessel insurers to provide oil spill trajectory modelling from ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited). This would ensure that the next day’s spill response, would be focused in the appropriate area.”

By Sunday morning, the IMOrg, chaired by the Department of Transport and SAMSA, convened a meeting with key stakeholders, including the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, SANPARKS, and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) to coordinate the spill response.

Containment efforts include sea patrols, aerial surveillance, and coastal foot patrols. Although a surveillance flight on Sunday afternoon detected no oil, authorities remain vigilant. The next step involves cleaning the hull of the MSC Apollo to prevent further contamination, which was not possible over the weekend due to the rough weather, with additional inspections planned for nearby islands.

The public has been asked to report any sightings of oiled wildlife as the situation develops.