- Edited by Bev Mortimer
Three men escaped from a sinking boat 8 nautical miles off in Gqeberha yesterday that was taking on water.
It has not yet been revealed why the boat started taking on water and sinking, but the three crew members sent out a Mayday distress call that was received by (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control and by Telkom Maritime Radio Services,
Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain said.
This is the second boat to take on water and start to sink this year, causing its crew to abandon their vessel, following the incident on 6 January this year at Shark Point, Port St Francis, when the Elke M ran aground.
The NSRI says at 1.30 pm yesterday, 12 February, NSRI Gqeberha volunteer duty crew were activated following along with the other rescue and port authporities. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC ), Police Sea Borderline Control, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, and EC Government Health EMS were alerted.
A sister motor launched also to go to their assistance and a foreign bulk carrier motor vessel that was due to be re-supplied by the casualty supply vessel, diverted from their course and responded to assist. The sister supply boat rescued two crew men from the water while the bulk carrier rescued the third crew member. They managed to throw a rope line to that man and successfully rescued him onto their boat,
Against strong gusting South Easterly winds the NSRI rescue craft arrived on the scene to find the stricken boat partly submerged with only her bow remaining above water.
A lee to shelter NSRI members against the strong winds was provided to the NSRI rescue craft by the bulk carrier motor boat. In the shelter of the lee, the three casualty crew were safely transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft.
The rescued seamen were brought to the NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base where they were medically assessed by EMS paramedics before all three were released in satisfactory conditions and not injured.
Maritime authorities are assessing the environmental impact while efforts to salvage the casualty vessel are being evaluated by the owners and by salvors.
The swift response to rescue the three men at sea by all parties involved, is commended, the NSRI says..
