In July 2005 a Vessel sailing from West Africa with a cargo of 6000 Exotic African Hardwood logs sank of the East Coast of South Africa. The owners of the vessel did as much as they possibly could to recover the logs before the ship sank. In the region of 4000 logs were lifted off the vessel, placed on barges that were towed to the area by tugs then off-loaded in East London. The Helicopter used t
o do the lifting was at the time the largest unit available. Costs relating to the salvage have made this recovery one of the most expensive in the history of Maritime operations in South Africa. Other than ecological concerns in this vulnerable marine environment where the vessel floundered, the cargo was of such a nature that every effort was made by Marine Authorities and Salvage Contractors to save the ship from sinking. Just on four thousand logs were removed from the holds of the vessel before she broke her back and sank taking the remaining logs to the bottom of the ocean. Contractors were brought in from America to implode the vessel using dynamite to encase the logs so as to prevent them from floating or drifting from the holds thus creating an extensive hazard to shipping and a danger to beach-goers along the coast. Tragically, a child was killed shortly after the sinking when one of the giant logs washed ashore, trapping the child playing in the surf. Captain Erasmus Head of the Explosive Branch of the SAPS managed the project on instructions from the owners of the vessel. Ten years later, a persistent Easterly wind has blown for eighteen months and awoken the giants and they are now playing on the ocean floor in the surrounding area of the wreck-site creating a danger to maritime activities and surrounding beaches. I was involved with the initial harvesting of logs that washed up onto beaches on the East Coast just after the vessel sank. The timber recovered at that time was Ocume, a lighter log than the giant species. The Ocume logs floated just below the surface of the sea, creating an extreme danger to any form of marine activity, be it a pleasure craft or commercial ship. The Oil Rig based off Mosselbay had to be on the lookout, 24 hours a day to redirect the logs as they approach the rig because of the sheer weight of the logs and the speed of the easterly current. A log of this nature would inflict devastating damage to the structure of the footing of the rig. In June 2014 I heard that a log had been sited close to a river mouth on the East Coast.On further investigation it was confirmed that this was a log from the Kipperousa. This then took me on a amazing expedition of recovering these awoken giants from the depths of the ocean, getting them onto the beach in a controlled manner, even though it felt as if we were never in control as the forces of nature and the wild sea always had something new to throw at us as we attempted the seemingly impossible. The sea is often said to be unforgiving, however it can be remarkably tolerant of fools – until it finally gets bored with them and has its way. After a year of tenacious persistence and team work from the divers Paul and Terry (without the two of them this task would not have succeeded) together with assistance from an amazing local community, we have managed to get our first load of timber into the sawmill. The profound difference between time and tides’ attendance upon us made me certain that the tide would turn sooner or later; a law of nature and reward to the team involved in this project. I have from the beginning felt that we could recover these giants and believed that only once these majestic logs have been milled, would their true beauty be seen. The milling process was an experience on its own. Each cut exposed the grain and colour of this timber, a true spectacle of nature in its purist form, beauty that I can’t describe as words fail me. I was mesmerized as it took me ages to decide where to cut next; whether to turn the giant as we removed layer after beautiful layer one at a time; the saw moaning and grunting as she yielded her inner secrets, plank after plank, revealing her hidden beauty, which had taken millennia to form and develop. I often stood with my head bowed in admiration, feeling humbled by what I was so privileged to see. The smell and sound will always be with me as I follow the journey of these pieces, each one so unique, one with the giant in all its glory. My wish is that whoever has the privilege to work this amazing timber, will show it the respect and honour it deserves - to be gazed upon through the ages by lovers of the giant that gave of itself to be.
