Teams act fast to secure washed-up fuel drum on Port Edward Beach
High tides brought the drum ashore which contained a mixture of fuel and water.
A 200-litre drum containing fuel mixed with water washed up onto Port Edward Beach during this week’s exceptionally high tides, prompting a swift joint response from Airtrack 101, GP Security and the NSRI Port Edward.
Airtrack 101 first spotted the drum in rough surf conditions on Tuesday while flying over the coastline.
Unable to verify the contents from the air, the crew requested a ground inspection. GP Security owner, Gary Burchard, immediately dispatched his team to investigate, while the NSRI Port Edward also responded to assist.
Both GP Security and the NSRI confirmed that the drum contained a mixture of fuel and water.
Hendrik Ludick of Airtrack 101 commended the rapid response, emphasising the importance of protecting the South Coast’s marine environment. “We need to safeguard our coastline. It might seem trivial, but a 200-litre drum can cause a great amount of contamination. Well done GP and NSRI! Thank you for following up and giving feedback. Our coastline is precious to us,” said Ludick.
The incident coincided with this year’s highest tide, which occurred on Tuesday (7th), at 16:12, confirmed by the South African Navy Hydrographic Office. The high surf made conditions challenging, with tides on Wednesday and Thursday only slightly lower.
The helicopter involved in spotting the drum was piloted by Ludick’s daughter, Daniél, a member of the Uvongo Conservancy.
“Environmental vigilance remains a shared responsibility, and this quick action from local responders prevented what could have been a small, but harmful pollution incident along the South Coast,” said Ludick.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
