There may be some oil leakage from a bulk carrier which ran aground in Cape Town due to bad weather, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) said on Saturday.

"Given that the bulk carrier sustained significant structural damage when she ran aground, it can be expected that some residual oil may be released as a result of bad weather and sea conditions affecting the structural integrity of the vessel," said Samsa in a statement.

The ship, Seli 1, ran aground just before midnight on Monday after massive swells and gale force winds sent waves crashing over the bow of the 77-metre Panamanian-registered coal bulk-carrier, which rolled and listed in the rising tide.

Twenty-five Turkish crew members had to be rescued. One of them was treated for mild hypothermia.

Although the vessel's fuel tanks remained intact, the fuel had to be removed to avoid the risk of oil pollution.

A ship-to-ship fuel-removal operation began on Friday.

By Saturday afternoon about 60 tonnes (60 000 litres) of fuel had been removed.

The receiving vessel Ocean Pride, was currently in the Port of Cape Town discharging fuel from Seli 1's storage tanks.

Another vessel, the Kuswag IV ? which has a storage capacity of 128 000 litres ? was on site near the Seli 1 to continue the fuel removal.

"The fuel removal operation continues in good weather and sea conditions," said Samsa.

Salvors would also be removing perishable items from the carrier on Saturday.

No leaks yet

On Saturday, the authority said the Department of Environmental Affairs' pollution patrol aircraft Kuswag 9 continued to fly over the area, "reporting no oil in the vicinity at this time."

Booms would being deployed across the mouth of the Milnerton Lagoon within the next 24 hours to protect the area from any possible oil spillage.

A joint operations committee has been formed to deal with the situation.

It includes representatives of SAMSA, Department of Environmental Affairs, SMIT Salvage, SANCCOB, City of Cape Town Disaster Management, Robben Island Museum, Transnet National Ports Authority.

Members of the public undertaking sea sports activities, as well as anyone flying crafts like microlights, were urged to steer clear of the area where the bulk carrier was located, as fuel removal operations continued.