Posted on June 30, 2016
The dredge “Macuti”, owned by the Mozambican Dredging Comoany (Emodraga), on Monday collided with a cargo ship in the access channel to the central Mozambican port of Beira.
The cargo ship, a Panama-registered container vessel, was leaving Beira, on its way to the South African port of Durban. The weather was poor, with fog in the access channel, and some eye-witnesses believed this reduced visibility may have contributed to the accident, which occurred at about 08.00
The hull of the “Macuti” was beached in the collision, and water began pouring into the stricken dredge, According to a report on the independent television station STV, the badly damaged dredge came to rest on a sandbank.
A team formed by staff from Emodraga, the Mozambique Port and Rail Company (CFM), the National Naval Institute (INAMAR) and the Beira Maritime Administration worked to refloat the dredge, and prevent it from sinking.
The loss of the “Macuti” would be a serious blow to the port of Beira. The access channel needs to be continually dredged in order to maintain a depth that allows large ships to enter and leave the port.
Source: AllAfrica
