St Francis Bay vessel fire sparks pollution fears

THE South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has issued a navigation warning due to the presence of the sunken vessel FV Western Star, which poses a hazard to maritime traffic.

The 40-foot vessel owned by Knysna Fishing Company sank on Monday, after a fire broke out while the vessel was at anchor off Paradise Beach in St Francis Bay.

At the time of the incident, the vessel with 11 crew members was carrying about 2,000 litres of diesel, 25 litres of oil and other lubricants, as well as an estimated 1,200 kilograms of squid stored in blue plastic bags.

“The incident was reported at around midday on Monday 2 February 2026. All 11 crew members were safely evacuated and are undergoing precautionary medical assessments. No injuries have been reported,” said SAMSA.

SAMSA, together with relevant authorities, was assessing potential pollution risks. 

“SAMSA has notified all relevant stakeholders and is coordinating the response with the vessel owners and their representatives. Steps are underway to develop plans for pollution response and wreck removal if required.

"A salvage company is being activated to support response operations, and an Incident Management System (IMS) structure has been established. SAMSA will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as information becomes available.”

Cape Times