On a flight towards Woody Cape yesterday, I flew over the Coega Harbour and saw the oil platform that is moored there being rinsed and washed. I wonder if they have a SAMSA permit and if it is under the same conditions as the previous Oil Rig that was ‘cleaned’ recently?
The series of four images clearly show:
- Large amounts of water exiting the oil rig’s structural columns connecting the pontoons and operating deck.
- An ‘ominous’ and unhealthy looking ‘shadow’ following the dredger out the harbour mouth.
- A dirty discolouration in the water that could be rust / paint / diesel oil or similar pollutant.
- Large amounts of water exiting the oil rig’s structural columns connecting the pontoons and operating deck whilst various pollutants can be seen towards the Coega Harbour Beach.
We encourage Coega to publically show their permits and permit conditions.
More concerns are; the booms do not appear to be able to withstand the water presure comming out of this oil rig, the abscence of any security boats near the oil rig as was the case the last time an oil rig was in the Coega Harbour for maintenance. That time, stand by boats from Xtreme Projects were clearly visible.
Rainer Schimpf
Ocean Messengers
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Port Elizabethan
This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.
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I am Kevin from Xtreme Projects, we are on duty at the rig 24 hours a day, the containment booms at the rig are monitored 24 hours as the wind and the flowing Coega river with wood, sewage etc entering the port, we damaged one of our FRC’s when we struck a large fence pole that floated into the harbour. Xtreme Projects is contracted to be on standby in case, the water that is dirty is from the river, Xtreme Projects will be there untill the rig leaves, as we are ISO14001 certified and will report any pollution should it happen. Check the website on the rig and it gives you the full picture of how a GREEN RIG works.
The other photo’s in this piece are of the dredger, dredging the harbour where they are extending the quay wall, it will be muddy in the area they work as it is MUD they are removing
Much appreciated, thanks for the info Kevin. Rainer
Thank you MyPe for bring this info to the surface – just hope Kevin can contain this situation. Looking forward to seeing regular updates here.
Pine