No environmental threat from submerged vehicle
THERE are no environmental concerns relating to the vehicle which plunged into the water at Naval Island last Wednesday morning.
This from Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Environmental Manager, Lungile Nyembe, whose department inspected the area in question.
‘TNPA’s Port of Richards Bay Environmental Department was notified of the incident just after 9.30am on Wednesday and proceeded to the site for an inspection, and to ascertain whether there were any environmental concerns.
‘Upon arrival, the department found that the vehicle had already been recovered from the water.
‘The area was inspected and no environmental threats were identified.
‘No oil smells or traces of oil in the water were noted, neither was such reported by port control. ‘TNPA is in the process of getting access control for the slipway to ensure the marine environment is protected.’
The vehicle plunged into the waters around the commercial slipway on Naval Island in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.
Details surrounding the reason behind the incident are sketchy and, despite police on the scene being told that the driver had been hijacked, Richards Bay SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Debbie Ferreira, on Monday confirmed that no such case had been opened by the vehicle owner.