Ship Days

The tanker, the MT Phoenix got in trouble in the vehement storm that was belting on the Kwazulu-Natal north coast on the 26th of July 2011. It eventually stranded on the beach off Sheffield Beach with its stern coming in first and as the stern got stuck it swung around until the bow almost rested on dry beach the next morning after the storm subsided… On the 27th of July 2011, the storm had subsided and the tanker set the scene for what would bring many tourists to the area. There was a strange kind of beauty in the stranding, like a majestic elephant bull that has come to the end of the road The first refloating attempt took place at about 16h30 on the 31st of July 2011. The ZTUG SMIT AMANDLA was the only tugboat used in the operation with the ZTUG SMIT AYANDA an onlooker. A single cable was used that was attached to the original anchor chain of the tanker. The swell was good but probably not good enough for the day and the ship didn’t move during this operation. The operation was eventually disbanded. After the first refloating attempt took place, salvaging work continued and the oil that was in the tanker were pumped out through the attached tubeline. The second refloating attempt took place at about 16h30 on the 1st of August 2011. The ZTUG SMIT AYANDA was tied to the front of the ZTUG SMIT AMANDLA and a single cable was used that was attached to the original anchor chain of the tanker. The swell was impressive following the recently passed spring tide. The attempt …

Buddy Guy – Forty Days And Forty Nights [HQ] (c) 2008 Columbia Records