Bloubergstrand clean-up continues

The cleanup of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town was continuing on Sunday, after the stranded Seli One carrier leaked oil onto the beach, the city's Disaster Risk Management said.

The disaster co-ordinating team was meeting on Sunday afternoon to review its plan of action and step up the cleanup operation to prevent pollution, said spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.

There was an increased work force patrolling the beaches from Milnerton lagoon to Big Bay.

The city was informed of the leak at 11pm on Friday night.

The Seli One has been stranded off the Blouberg coast since 2009, but rough sea conditions and strong winds were causing the ship to break apart, leaking remaining oil into the sea.

Priority was being given to sensitive areas such as wetlands, sanctuaries including Robben Island, and the Koeberg nuclear power station.

Solomons-Johannes said three seals had been taken for cleaning and rehabilitation. There were two dead birds and two dead seal pups.

"We have alerted the SPCA and SANCCOB [seabird rehabilitation centre] because the oil is damaging to animals if taken in and can negatively affect their internal organs," he said.

"We have conducted aerial surveillance and did not detect any marine animals or sea birds in distress."

He said Seli One has started to disintegrate.

"We want the oil to come out so we can start getting rid of it. It's actually a good thing," said Solomons-Johannes.

Members of the public were advised not to go swimming, boating, kite surfing and canoeing in the affected area.