Published by on

A total of 15 crew members were rescued south of Mossel Bay’s coast on Thursday afternoon after their offshore supply vessel (OSV) caught on fire and had to be abandoned, Cape {town} Etc reports.

This is according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

Also read: NSRI warns of spring tide after busy weekend with several rescues

The OSV, named the AM PRIDE, was measured at 66.6 metres long and 16 metres wide and was sailing under the Marshall Islands flag.

The vessel reportedly caught on fire while out at sea ‘approximately 48.5 nautical miles’ south of Mossel Bay.

The OSV’s situation surfaced at about 10:30am on Thursday after the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch and Response in Cape Town received a call from the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA).

They advised that the vessel had a fire onboard, close to an FA platform, and ‘required immediate assistance’.

The fire was located in the ship’s mess room and it ‘was out of control’, according to PetroSA’s report to the MRCC.

Weather conditions in the area at the time were described as ‘poor’ to ‘bad’ and characterised by a south-easterly wind gusting at up to 30 knots per hour.

A swell of between 3.5 and 5 metres with a visibility of just seven nautical miles was also observed.

The rescue and evacuation of the 15-member crew onboard was the ‘immediate and primary concern’, according to the SAMSA.

‘A MayDay relay was immediately requested via Telkom Maritime Services for vessels in the area to render assistance. Two vessels identified as in proximity with the casualty vessel, the MV Angelic Peace and MV Thunderbird requested to proceed to assist,’ said the MRCC.

A PetroSA helicopter was eventually sent to assist and was able to retrieve the first group of eight crew members from a life-raft and onto the FA platform.

The helicopter returned on a second trip to rescue the seven remaining crew members on the life-raft, who were then safely transported to George.

‘They will be flown to Cape Town on Friday, joining the eight others scheduled to spend the night on the FA platform prior to being transferred also to Cape Town on Friday morning,’ said the SAMSA.

‘In the meantime, an Emergency Towing Vessel, the Mkhuseli, from African Marine Solution (AMSOL) is on its way to rendezvous with the casualty vessel, scheduled for about 07:30am on Friday,’ said SAMSA.

The Amsol-owned ETV will retrieve the casualty vessel to a place of refuge, as agreed with the owners, according to the SAMSA.

Also read:

Surf skier rescued in rough seas near Simon’s Town

Picture: SAMSA website / Screenshot

Article written by