The cargo ship that ran aground two weeks ago off Buffels Bay near Knysna has sunk, the Knysna municipality said.
According to the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa), the Kiani Satu sank at 4am on Wednesday, municipality spokeswoman Athane Scholtz said in a statement.
It sunk in 1000 metres of water 110 nautical miles south of Buffels Bay.
“They have assured us that this is very far and very deep and poses no serious environmental risk to the South African coast.”
The environmental affairs department had told Samsa there was no remaining oil threat to the Garden Route coast.
The department would continue to monitor the coastline. No oil had been reported in the water since August 14.
The Goukamma nature reserve and marine protected area was open to the public and for accommodation bookings.
“Cape Nature has requested that the public be aware of the clean-up still happening inside the reserve and to respect any possible restrictions of movement that it may imply,” Scholtz said.
The municipality thanked all who had helped in the removal of the ship.
The region’s economy depended on its environment and related tourism, it said.
