SOUTH AFRICA'S ILLUSTRIOUS SALVAGE SECTOR WELCOMES ISU

ABOARD my reliable 2008-vintage, rust-free Toyota Yaris with nearly 430 000km on the clock, I will travel to tonight's reception for folks attending the International Salvage Union's (ISU) gathering in Cape Town.

- BRIAN INGPEN

THE extent of the missing side-plating on the ulcc Mimosa was evident when her cargo had been transferred to another ulcc in Algoa Bay.

(AMSOL)

A consultative member of the International Maritime Organisation, the London-based ISU represents the interests of its members, those intrepid salvage folks who, often at risk themselves, provide marine services that save lives, protect the environment, mitigate risk and reduce loss when marine accidents occur.

Host South Africa has a long history of successful maritime salvage, rescue and towage operations. A sharp upward curve in the number of successful operations began when powerful steam tugs performed dual harbour and salvage roles. Given their rudimentary navigation and radio equipment as well as the towing gear of the time, their feats were remarkable.

However, South Africa sprang to prominence when it initiated the so-called emergency standby towing vessel system whereby a tug is on short-notice to hasten to sea to aid a casualty. (That concept is used now by many other maritime countries.) Custom-designed and completed for this purpose in 1976 were the fast, powerful Wolraad Woltemade and the Durban-built John Ross (later Smit Amandla and then SA Amandla) that operated most successfully until they were withdrawn in 2009 and 2023 respectively.

Through their ocean towage operations that included towing large oil rigs and FPSOs often through wild seas and narrow passages and their successful salvage operations, the tugs, those aboard and those operating them soon gained global respect that opened other doors for their services.