Cape Town -The shipwrecked Seli 1 will finally be removed off the coast of Blouberg in the Western Cape.

The Department of Transport has this week agreed to fund the removal of the stranded ship, which could cost the government upwards of R40 million.

Last week amid turbulent ocean conditions, the ship was broken into three pieces which resulted in a terrible oil spill. The spill affected over 70 African penguins and the oil washed ashore Bloubergstrand and Dolphin beaches.

The Seli 1 which is a Turkish bulk cargo carrier,  has been shipwrecked since September 2009.

Photo: The Seli 1 broken into three pieces resulting in a oil spill