In the early hours of this morning, 14 April 2023, The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Simon’s Town received an activation call from the NSRI Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) regarding a support vessel on fire south of Cape Point.
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The vessel in question was a 35-metre Hout Bay-based support vessel.
As the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Telkom Maritime Radio Services were coordinating their response to the incident, an all-ships alert was issued on marine VHF radio, notifying all shipping traffic in the area to divert and assist if possible.
The cargo vessel Aquaexplorer and the fishing vessel Umfondini promptly responded to the alert and diverted to assist.
Watch the rescue mission here
The 26-member crew of the casualty boat abandoned their vessel, which had reportedly caught fire, and got into a life raft.
Fortunately, they were rescued by the fishing vessel Umfondini and did not sustain any injuries.
NSRI Hout Bay dispatched two rescue craft, the Nadine Gordimer and the Albie Matthews, while NSRI Simon’s Town dispatched the NSRI rescue vessel Donna Nicholas to the scene.
The Transnet National Ports Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, NSRI Simon’s Town, Hout Bay duty controllers and the NSRI’s EOC all worked together to coordinate the rescue operation.
The crew of 26 was safely brought to Buffels Bay, where they were transferred onto the NSRI Simon’s Town rescue craft Donna Nicholas before being taken to NSRI Simon’s Town. From there, they were transported by road to their home base in Hout Bay.
NSRI would like to commend all involved in the swift response to the emergency.
In an update, MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio Services confirmed reports of the hull located adrift on the Atlantic Seaboard side of Cape Point, drifting in a north-westerly direction.
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Picture: National Sea Rescue Institute