Twelve crewmen were rescued on Sunday after a Saldanha Bay 24-meter fishing vessel capsized in Cape Point.
National Sea Rescue Institute EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) was alerted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services and by Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the fishing vessel and that there were casualties in the water 8 nautical miles south of Cape Point following a marine radio mayday distress call intercepted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.
According to NSRI Simonstown station commander, Darren Zimmerman, the NSRI team was informed that there were fellow fishing vessels in the vicinity and that they were reacting to assist.
While all three NSRI rescue stations were preparing to launch sea rescue craft confirmation was received from Telkom Maritime Radio Services and by MRCC, that all 12 crew were accounted for and safe onboard three fellow fishing vessels.
“It was confirmed that fishing vessel Oceana Concord had safely rescued seven casualty crewmen, the fishing vessel Oceana Mercury had safely rescued four casualty crewmen and the fishing vessel Alert III had safely rescued one casualty crewman,” he said.
The team was stood down after confirmation was received that none of the 12 casualty crewmen were injured. “NSRI Hout Bay crew and NSRI Kommetjie crew remained on high alert at their NSRI rescue stations while EMS Metro Control, NSRI EOC, MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio Services remained on high alert until all 3 fishing vessels, with all 12 casualty crewmen, were safely in Hout Bay harbour and no further assistance was required,” he said.
Also read:
NSRI asks public to exercise caution after an increase in shark activity
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery