NPA Assisting Stranded Container Vessel

National Ports Authority (NPA) is monitoring a salvage operation that is underway to pull the Sealand Express, a container vessel, off the Dolphin Beach near Milnerton. The container vessel was driven ashore in high winds and heavy sea conditions. Captain Edward Bremner, spokesperson for NPA at the Port of Cape Town, said NPA had assisted in an earlier attempt to tow the ship off the beach, but it had been unsuccessful. Further attempts to tow the vessel off the beach will be made later and NPA will continue to assist with this operation. Dolphin beach is situated approximately four miles from the Port of Cape Town. The 246m ship is lying parallel to the shore. Bremner said the tide was outgoing at the moment and they stood a better chance to salvage her, once the tide changed. He said no pollution had been sighted.