GPHA explains the dumping of cargo vessel

Tema, Nov. 18, GNA - The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on Monday explained that it dumped MV Suam Reefer, a cargo vessel, at the Tema Sakomono beach so as to avert possible disaster at the port.

A delay in taking a quick, as well as on the spot action, would have caused a catastrophe and cost the nation several billions of cedis, Mr Godwin Anim, Director of Tema Port stated.

He was answering questions at a two-day stakeholders workshop to deliberate on the strategic direction of the Ministry of Ports, Harbours and Railways, after presenting a paper on the progress of the port and explained that the vessel, which had been abandoned at the anchorage, had taken in plenty of water making her to slide to one side.

In that situation the vessel was about to sink at any moment and so a quick decision was taken to tow it to a safer place and later trace the owners to take action.

According to him, the PSC Tema Shipyard Limited which was contacted for assistance could not help, so upon the advice of the Surveyors of the GPHA, it was beached at the Sakumono site.

He said the his outfit decided not to dump the vessel at the usual site at Kpone because the GPHA was incurring high cost to salvage others which had earlier been sent there.

In respect of this particular vessel, INFITCO Company Limited, the owners of the vessel, had been traced and would take action on it, he added.

Last Thursday, the vessel was beached along the Sakumono coastline, near community three, drawing criticism from members of the public.

A large number of people continue to visit the ship, turning it into a tourist attraction with food vendors taking advantage of the situation to make business.