Ship runs aground near EL
Durban - A Safmarine container vessel ran aground moments after leaving East London on Monday night.
Port spokesperson Terry Taylor said the 184m-long Safmarine Agulhas was nearly a kilometre offshore when she lost power and strong onshore winds pushed her towards the western breakwater.
She ran aground on a sandbank 200m from the breakwater.
There were two tugs trying to attach lines to the vessel and tow her off the sand bank when the tide had come in.
"The two tugs are changing their towlines and will attempt to pull her off," he said.
The crew was not in any immediate danger and power had been restored to the engines. He said the damage, if any, was not known and the ship was not taking on water.
The ship's next port of call was Port Elizabeth.
The Safmarine Agulhas was built in 1995 and could carry 1 730 containers when fully laden.
Taylor said the vessel did not have a full load when it left port in three-metre swells.
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