Tender for Ultra Galaxy wreck removal closed

The monitoring of the wreck of the Panama-flagged general cargo vessel, the Ultra Galaxy, as well as the location of its surroundings on South Africa’s west coast on the Atlantic Ocean continues, pending the formal appointment of salvors to retrieve the vessel’s remains from the shoreline.

In a brief statement, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed that the tender period for the removal of the wreck had recently been closed with the vessel owner’s insurers, P&I and salvage experts now engaged with the assessment of the tenders received.

“Once done, the preferred options will be presented to SAMSA for consideration,” SAMSA added.

In terms of the conditions on location of the wreck, SAMSA said: “The situation is the same with no significant change in the wreck or its position. In terms of clean up of the oil spill, the response teams remain on the beaches with a huge team to ensure that any, and all debris or oily recharge – even as very minor at this stage – is picked up.”

The MV Ultra Galaxy ran aground on the West Coast of South Africa on 9 July 2024.

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