Salvage operators in Cape Town are battling the elements to assess the damage caused to a ship that ran aground near Blouberg.

The Panamanian-registered Seali-One was transporting a cargo of coal bound for Gibraltar when it was driven ashore overnight about 180m from the shore line.

Officials have been doing their best to assess whether the hull was damaged but there are also fears fuel could start leaking into the sea.

Ship runs aground

A joint operation center has been set up as conservation officials do their bit, cordoning off parts of the beach from where the salvage operations will be coordinated.

The 25 Turkish crew members were airlifted to safety in the early hours of Tuesday morning and one man was treated for mild hypothermia.

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