More equipment is being readied to include an oil spill from a ship which ran aground and began to break apart in rainy weather condition on South Africa's. west coast, although there are no signs of affected wildlife. yet, authorities stated on Monday.

Rough sea swells have damaged the Panama-flagged general. freight vessel Ultra Galaxy given that it wandered onto a sand bank. three weeks earlier near Doring Bay, some 300 km (186 miles). north of Cape Town, after the ship's team abandoned the vessel. when it started handling water.

Restore operations are continuing and more devices is. being mobilised to consist of the oil spill, said Tebogo Ramatjie,. spokesperson for the South African Maritime Safety Authority. ( SAMSA).

The spill happened over the weekend when the ship broke. into four sections, with big waves practically 7 metres (23 feet). high crashing into the wreck every 15 seconds at one stage,. SAMSA said.

A salvage group has actually handled to get rid of a number of lube oil drums. and about 8 tons of marine gas oil from the wreck's fuel. tanks. SAMSA has stated there were approximately 500 tons of fuel. aboard the vessel that still needed to be eliminated.

We have not yet gotten any reports of oiled wildlife and. there has actually not been reported sightings of oiled wildlife at this. phase, Monica Stassen of seabird conservation group SANCCOB. said.

The spill occurred along a corridor that threatened African. penguins pass through when migrating from South Africa to Namibian. waters, she said.

Contamination could also threaten Olifants River estuary further. south, one of South Africa's biggest and home to flamingoes,. herons and other water birds, Stassen added.

An oil spill contingency plan was immediately launched and. about 125 people from local neighborhoods are assisting with mopping. up operations, SAMSA's Ramatjie said earlier.

U.S.-based Willpower Marine, at first selected to deal with the. salvage operation, has been changed by SMIT International, he. stated.