The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) jumped into action following a distress VHF marine radio call from a local fishing vessel reportedly taking water three nautical miles off-shore of Duiker Island in Hout Bay.
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Following the Mayday communication, NSRI Hout Bay, Bakoven and Table Bay were activated to respond to base to prepare rescue craft to launch to assist.
According to the rescue organisation, 17 fishermen were onboard the 28-metre, steel hull, casualty longline fishing vessel. The vessel would sometimes be taking water but maintained structural and navigational integrity but with their motors cutting out before being restarted and then cutting out again, at intervals.
‘The local fishing vessel Lucerne, that had diverted to assist, reached the casualty vessel. We believe they rafted alongside as a precaution and at times they were able to release the rafting when, at times, the casualty fishing vessel managed to get her motors running,’ reported the NSRI.
‘It was reported, in communications with Telkom Maritime Radio Services, that the skipper and crew of the casualty fishing vessel had managed to get their motors running and, as a precaution, the skipper headed his vessel out to sea – away from land – to give them added drift time – in case the motors cut out again,’ the NSRI added.
‘They reported that they had stemmed the ingress of water.’
With the knowledge that the casualty vessel was being assisted by the local fishing vessel Lucerne, NSRI Bakoven and Hout Bay remained on high alert as the casualty vessel was reportedly heading towards the port of Table Bay in up to four-metre sea swells, occasional rain and fair winds, but rough seas.
An NSRI Table Bay rescue craft reached the casualty vessel where, once on-scene, Lucerne was released to return to fishing grounds and a towline was established to begin towing the casualty fishing vessel towards the Port of Table Bay.
‘All 17 fishermen were not injured and, although the status of the rescue operation remained tense, it was now under control and the towing operation was progressing without incident,’ reported the NSRI.
The towline, which had snapped due to chaffing but was quickly re-established, was handed over to the waiting Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) tug boat that brought the fishing vessel to a berth in the port.
‘The fishing company has initiated repairs to their fishing vessel,’ added the NSRI.
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Picture: National Sea Rescue Institute.
