The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) rescued 22 fishermen from a sinking fishing trawler off the coast of Cape Town on Saturday morning.
The rescue organisation was placed on alert on Friday morning after receiving reports from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) that the 35-metre long liner vessel was taking on water about 30 nautical miles southwest of the Port of Table Bay.
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According to the NSRI, the vessel was pumping water free and had been taken under tow by a fellow local fishing trawler, en route to Hout Bay harbour on Saturday morning. The fishermen were confident that they would reach the harbour in good time.
‘At around 10am, it was reported that the situation had deteriorated as sea conditions changed, wind speeds and sea swells increased in intensity and NSRI decided to launch an assist,’ said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
‘The NSRI Hout Bay rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and the NSRI Table Bay rescue craft DHL Deliverer were launched, accompanied by water pumps – an additional water pump had been delivered to NSRI Hout Bay by the NSRI Simon’s Town crew.’
A team comprising of WC Government Health EMS, SAPS, Police Sea Borderline Control and SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) were also alerted.
The NSRI Table Bay rescue craft reached the fishing trawler by late afternoon on Saturday, 20 nautical miles offshore of Oudekraal.
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Lambinon added: ‘It was obvious to NSRI that the casualty vessel, heavy laden with water, despite her crew’s best efforts to expel water, was at risk of capsizing and almost immediately the towline was released while the 22 crew abandoned their vessel into a life raft’.
All 22 fishermen were rescued safely and brought onto the NSRI rescue craft. One man was treated onboard after sustaining an injury and was transported to hospital in a stable condition.
‘Sadly, the long liner fishing trawler sunk in a short space of time,’ said Lambinon.
The remaining 21 fishermen were assessed by paramedics at the NSRI Table Bay rescue station and released in good health.
‘Thoughts and care are with the 22 casualty fishermen and their families, as well as the owners of the fishing company in this difficult time, but we are confident that they will be back on the sea shortly. Authorities are assessing the environmental impact of the sunken fishing trawler.’
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Picture: Screenshot from video / NSRI
