Offshore refuelling deepens fears for SA’s penguin haven

PORT ELIZABETH: Generators hum loudly in the background as a tour boat bobs past a towering vessel filled with ship fuel, anchored in Algoa Bay, a stone’s throw away from the world’s largest breeding colony of African penguins. Mid-way along the Europe- Asia sea route, the bay’s deepwater port was an obvious choice for South Africa’s first offshore bunkering operation. Since 2016, mostly cargo ships have pulled in for ship-to-ship (STS) refuelling, allowing them to carry more freight, bypass port fees and save time. But conservationists, ecotour operators and nature lovers are alarmed about the longterm impact in a marine biodiversity hotspot and major foreign tourist magnet.

They claim the bunkering takes place too close to foraging and breeding grounds, disrupting the ecosystem and exposing sea animals to oil spills. The risk has been highlighted by the catastrophic oil spill which began earlier this month into a protected marine park off the pristine coastline of Mauritius, after a bulk carrier ran aground on July 25. With the main storage tanker in Algoa Bay able to hold 100,000 metric tonnes of fuel, opponents fear a potentially massive leak. In two minor spills, in 2017 and 2019, rangers rescued oil-tarred penguins. Scientists are also studying whether the noise, pollution and increased ship traffic could affect the marine animals. They are particularly worried that vibrations caused by the activity may drive away those that rely on sonar to hunt fish. “This is too close to the Marine Protected Area, there are too many risks involved,” warned environmental scientist Ronelle Friend.

Algoa Bayis home to myriad species of seabirds, including under half the global population of African penguins, classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The world’s largest group of bottlenose dolphins was recorded in the bay in 2018, according to a report last year by the Port Elizabeth-based Nelson Mandela University. The site is also on the path of an annual sardine run, touted as one of the planet’s most spectacular marine events. “This operation is slap-bang in the middle of a hotspot for bait fish that birds feed on,” said whale watcher and tour operator Lloyd Edwards.