The NSRI Simon’s Town duty crew, along with trained SAWDN volunteers, responded to assist after reports of a young humpback whale tangled inside the harbour.
Early in the morning, the NSRI Simon’s Town received eyewitness reports of splashing and unusual activity, including heavy breathing, near a foreign catamaran moored at the harbour. Upon arrival, the crew found the whale trapped in the mooring strops of the vessel, whose French owners were abroad at the time.
The catamaran was secured at False Bay Yacht Club with pick-up strops running from the mooring buoys to the bow of the vessel. It is believed the whale swam between the two hulls of the catamaran, likely from the rear, and became entangled in the mooring lines toward the front.
As the whale struggled, it appeared to get more entangled in the ropes. This presented a complex disentanglement challenge, prompting the team to notify the False Bay Yacht Club and inform the vessel’s owners.
The NSRI rescue craft Jack & Irene, along with Donna Nicholas, were launched to the scene, where Donna Nicholas stood by in case the catamaran needed to be moved.
Instead of using the usual SAWDN cutting tools, a knife from Donna Nicholas was employed to cut through the ropes. The whale, initially distressed, seemed to calm down once the crew began cutting. After several cuts, the whale was freed and slowly swam away. Once it realised it was completely untangled, it swam off confidently.
In a statement, the NSRI praised the team for their delicate handling of the operation. Over the weekend, the coastline was monitored, and no further reports indicated harm to the whale, suggesting it was uninjured.
The South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN), founded in 2006, specialises in freeing entangled whales using trained volunteers from various organisations, including the NSRI, KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, and others, with full support from the Dolphin Action and Protection Group.
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Picture: NSRI
