AS the festive season approaches, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) along with Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Transnet National Ports Authority (TPNA), and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), are optimistic that KwaZulu-Natal beaches are ready for bathers and holidaymakers. Of great concern to the Department are reports that nurdles have washed up on beaches in the Eastern and Western Cape. The situation it said, is being addressed.
In Durban however, authorities have been working tirelessly around the clock to retrieve a total of 2 000 bags that were carrying plastic polyethylene nurdles lost from containers following the storm on 10 October. The storm wreaked havoc causing several deaths in and around the province, as well as extensive damage. It further caused destruction at the Durban harbour when several ships lost their moorings and four shipping containers fell off vessels.
READ RELATED: Maritime authorities monitor plastic pollution mop up
A Joint Operations Committee, attended by SAMSA, DEA and TNPA has met regularly reporting on the progress of the clean-up. While the Durban Harbour has been declared safe and clean, the authorities are still monitoring the area. So far at least 3,5 tons of nurdles have been recovered.
The clean-up teams have worked around the clock to ensure that the Durban beaches were ready for the festive season.
The JOC confirmed this week clean- up operations will now be concentrated on the north coast as heavy deposits of nurdles were spotted on the northern lagoon banks.
The MSC has appointed local firm Drizit Environmental are storing the nurdles at their depot in Jacobs, Durban, and were using several clean-up teams round the clock.
SAMSA’s principal officer based in Durban, Captain Hopewell Mkhize, confirmed that the clean up process was progressing well.
ALSO READ: Tons of nurdles collected along coastline
“Drizit has assured us that they will continue in their efforts to ensure that the critical beaches are treated as priority, and that the beaches are declared safe for use,” he said.
Mkhize said the clean-up process will be ongoing. Some areas have been recharged with nurdles and have to be cleaned again.
“The situation will be monitored for now before the decision to stop is made.”
Additional resources and personnel provided by DEA have been brought to sites, and are assisting to speed up the clean-up operations. During the clean- up operations different types of plastics, not emanating from the containers, were also spotted.
Mkhize said an ROV Survey was completed to scan the bottom of harbour area to ensure that none of the nurdles bags were trapped underneath. The investigation found nothing.
A model study was further undertaken looking at the currents, the tides, and the wind to confirm the possible places where the bags could have gone. The clean-up teams were busy with the targeted areas and were focusing their efforts on the projections of the model results.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
