Cargo Ship Refloated After Grounding Near St. Anne Island

A Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel, the Spil Ningsih, ran aground on the northern side of St. Anne Island on October 19. The vessel was successfully refloated early the next day, at 1:10 AM, with no pollution or water ingress reported.

The incident took place on October 19 when the vessel grounded in a protected area within the St. Anne Marine Park. The Seychelles Port Authority (SPA) immediately activated their emergency response plan, dispatching a 30-member team to the scene.

Due to the sensitive nature of the marine park, swift action was crucial to avoid environmental damage. Authorities were particularly concerned about the vessel's position, noting that if it had shifted parallel to the shore, the risk of pollution would have been much higher, complicating recovery efforts.

The Seychelles Maritime Port Authority, Seychelles Coast Guard, and the National Information Sharing Centre also arrived promptly to assist in refloating the vessel. Initial assessments indicated no damage to the vessel and no signs of pollution.

Despite several unsuccessful attempts to refloat the ship, the operation finally succeeded with the rising tide at 1:10 AM on October 20. The vessel was subsequently towed to Mahe Quay in Port Victoria, Seychelles, where it safely docked at 5:47 PM.

SPA confirmed that no pollution occurred during the incident and there was no water ingress into the vessel.