Edited by Kouga Chronicle. A group of six other stowaways who left a container ship apparently to swim ashore near Durban Port and six were rescued, but a seventh is missing in the surf since yesterday evening at about 6 pm.
Six of them were apparently rescued by the ship, but one man has not been found in the sea. Despite an extensive search operation, including NSRI deploying a drift buoy to determine drift speed and direction, there has been no sign of the missing man, last seen in the water wearing a green shirt and green pants.
The NSRI reports that yesterday evening, about 6 pm, NSRI Durban became aware of a search operation in progress about 5 nautical miles offshore of Durban’s Port. On investigation, by NSRI Durban and by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), it was determined that a search had started at about 2 pm yesterday, following a Pan Pan emergency marine VHF radio broadcast from a motor vessel container ship. The broadcast of seven men overboard was intercepted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.
During the afternoon, MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) coordinated a search and rescue operation involving the motor vessel container ship plus two commercial motor vessels, a bulk carrier, and a container ship. NSRI Durban, in consultation with TNPA Port of Durban Port Control, made the decision to launch NSRI rescue craft in a bid to assist in the ongoing search operation. This was despite the time lapse from the initial alarm being raised and despite nightfall.
MRCC was informed that NSRI would be launching to assist in the search for the missing man. NSRI Durban duty crew volunteers were activated and responded to the NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base. Police Search and Rescue were notified.
The NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie and Spirit of Surfski 6 were launched while NSRI EOC and an NSRI Kommetjie volunteer plotted search grid patterns (using Searchwell). Sea current drift and wind speed and direction, in cooperation with NSRI Durban duty controllers, were considered.
NSRI liaised with the three motor vessels that were engaged in the search since the afternoon. Police Search and Rescue and Police Sea Borderline Control are were alerted.
The KZN surf rescue network is keeping a lookout, and Telkom Maritime Radio Services are continuing to broadcast an all ships alert for the area.
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