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MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - An ecological disaster was averted on Saturday afternoon, 19 January, when the Mossel Bay Municipality Fire and Disaster Management Services were alerted to a strong diesel smell and diesel clearly visible on the beach and in the ocean at Bayview Beach.
Ivor van Zyl and a friend were fishing when they smelt the diesel and investigated where it had come from.
With the help of two young men, they found the origin and started damming the diesel flow with sand walls. Van Zyl alerted S.M.A.R.T. (Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team) about the incident at 15:35, who alerted the Mossel Bay Municipal Environmental Officer, Warren Manuel.
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The Fire and Disaster Management Services were on the scene at 16:10.
According to Van Zyl, a huge disaster was averted due to this quick response.
"A leak in the feedstock pipeline in the vicinity of the PetroSA’s Voorbaai Tank Farm resulted in the spillage of some condensate (feedstock) at Bayview Beach," Tumoetsile Mogamisi, the spokesperson for PetroSA confirmed to the Mossel Bay Home Ads News.
"PetroSA immediately activated emergency response procedures including activating a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) and speedily isolated the spill.
The PetroSA Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (H-SEQ) team, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and other stakeholders, as well as members from S.M.A.R.T. visited the scene.
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According to S.M.A.R.T. volunteer Johan Crew: “There was a strong smell of diesel hanging in the air and we checked the area for any seabirds and other marine animals that might be contaminated with diesel. Mr Van Zyl made the right call when he phoned S.M.A.R.T. as the response was fast and the situation was dealt with quickly and effectively.”
The area in front of the PetroSA Tank Farm in Voorbaai, where the spill occurred. Photo: Tersia Marais
Mossel Bay municipal manager Advocate Thys Giliomee said: “To allow for the effective clean-up of the affected areas, the municipality closed the beach between Hartenbos and Bayview."
Beaches were opened again on Sunday after no further contamination was found.
If any stranded marine animals or seabirds are seen, contact S.M.A.R.T. (072 227 4715) immediately.
PetroSA personnel busy with the clean-up. Photo: Tersia Marais
Read a previous article: Beaches closed as a precautionary measure to avert ecological disaster
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