Transport Malta continues investigation into the grounding of the Maltese ship Oliva

Reports received by Transport Malta indicate that a sheen of fine lubricating oil was observed on the surface, with some evidence of fuel oil coming out from either section.

The Malta-registered bulk carrier Oliva, whichwas built in 2009, was carrying approximately 65,000 metric tonnes of soya beans at the time of the accident. She had about 1,400 metric tonnes of fuel oil in her bunker, settling, and service tanks. No injuries have been reported and all 22 crew members on board the vessel are safe on the main island of Tristan da Cunha.

Officials from Transport Malta’s Merchant Shipping Directorate are carefully examining the situation as it evolves in order to conduct the investigation in the most efficient manner.

Transport Malta is also liaising closely and directly with the owners and managers of the vessel and is being informed regularly and frequently on the salvage operation.

The salvage tug Smit Amandla, which is contracted by the ship owners, had left Cape Town several hours after the accident and managers have confirmed that she is now on scene since 21 March 2011.

The salvage tug is carrying oil spill clean-up equipment and has a salvage team of 10 persons, including a salvage master, an environmental scientist, a naval architect and five divers.

The vessel’s aft section remains stranded in shallow waters with a list of about 80 degrees to its port side. The forward section is several hundred metres away from the aft section and appears to have some buoyancy. Managers advised that the initial plan is to secure the bow section, free it from the rocks with the aid of the sea swell, and eventually tow it into deeper waters.