Rescuers recently saved a total of 22 fishermen from a sinking vessel off the coast of Cape Town.
Rescuers saved a total of 22 fishermen off the coast of Cape Town
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon, the incident happened on Friday at around 9:36.
“The NSRI Hout Bay and NSRI Table Bay duty crews went on alert after MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) reported a local 35-meter-long line fishing trawler taking on water (but under tow and pumping water free) about 30 nautical miles off-shore, Southwest of the Port of Table Bay.”
He said a fellow local fishing trawler had taken the casualty fishing trawler under tow.
THERE WERE INITIALLY NO IMMINENT DANGER
“We believe that the local casualty fishing trawler started taking water in the early hours of the morning and started heading towards Hout Bay harbour. Confident that it would reach the harbour in good time.”
Lambinon stated that they arranged for a fellow local fishing vessel to tow the casualty vessel. Once they had the casualty fishing vessel under tow, they were confident they would reach Hout Bay harbour in good time.
SEA CONDITIONS WERE CHANGING AND WIND AND SEA SWELLS WERE INCREASING
At that stage, he alerted the Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), and MRCC, but there was no imminent danger.
“At around 10h00, reports indicated a deterioration in the situation as sea conditions changed. With increasing wind speeds and sea swells in intensity, the NSRI made the decision to launch and assist.”
THE NSRI REACHED THE VESSEL LATE AFTERNOON
Lambinon said the NSRI Table Bay rescue craft reached the casualty vessel late afternoon, 20 nautical miles off-shore of Oudekraal, in 3 to 4-meter swells and 35 knots, gusting to 40 knots winds.
“It was obvious to NSRI that the casualty vessel, heavily laden with water, despite her crew’s best efforts to expel water, was at risk of capsizing.
“And almost immediately, the towline was released while the 22 crew abandoned their vessel into a life raft. The NSRI rescue craft rescued all 22 fishermen safely onto the NSRI rescue craft.”
Craig Lambinon said.
The NSRI craft safely rescued all 22 fishermen
He said one man suffered an injury, and he was treated onboard the NSRI rescue craft by NSRI medics.
Sadly, the long-liner fishing trawler sunk in a short space of time.
EMS paramedics tended to the injured man after bringing all 22 fishermen to the NSRI Table Bay rescue station.
A fisherman sustained injuries, and authorities took him to the hospital
He was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Paramedics assessed the remaining 21 crew and found them to be in good health, so they released them.
AUTHORITIES ARE ASSESSING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
“Thoughts and care are with the 22 casualty fishermen and their families as well as the owners of the fishing company in this difficult time. But we are confident that they will be back on the sea shortly.”
Lambinon furthermore adds that authorities are assessing the environmental impact of the sunken fishing trawler.
