Gqeberha coast rescue: 21 fishermen saved from burning vessel
21 fishermen were safely rescued off the Gqeberha coast on Monday after their fishing vessel, Silver Dorado caught alight.
Image: National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI)
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) rescued 21 fishermen after their fishing vessel caught alight approximately 1 nautical mile offshore of Noordhoek, Gqeberha on Monday afternoon.
The NSRI said its Gqeberha crew were alerted to respond to the incident after an eyewitness reported the incident. The vessel, Silver Dorado, had also issued a may day call.
NSRI Gqeberha dispatched rescue swimmers and a rescue vehicle to respond to Noordhoek while the NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian and Rescue 6 Alpha were launched and also responded.
When the NSRI rescue craft got the vessel, it was found that several fishing vessels had responded to the may day call and were assisting the Silver Dorado's crew who were in the water near to their burning fishing vessel.
The cause of the fire will be investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and the police.
Image: National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI)
A local fishing vessel, Leguga, arriving on the scene, launched their own life-raft to assist the 12 fishermen who had abandoned the burning vessel into the sea.
“At least another 5 fishing vessels, who had intercepted the Mayday distress call and subsequent relayed Mayday distress calls, arrived on the scene where the fishing vessel Legugu had at that stage managed to recover 12 fishermen from their life-raft and from the sea.
“The fishing vessel Raka rescued 4 fishermen, the fishing vessel Maverick rescued 4 fishermen, and the fishing vessel Vulcan rescued 1 fisherman. All 21 casualty crew were rescued by the local fishing vessels that had gone to her assistance.”
All 21 fishermen were medically assessed and were found to have no injuries.
Image: National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI)
The NSRI said it was reported that the fire spread rapidly after being discovered onboard by the skipper and the crew was unable to launch their own rescue craft.
“All 21 men were brought to the NSRI rescue base - at the Port of Port Elizabeth - they were all medically assessed by EMS paramedics and all casualty crew were confirmed to be not injured and requiring no medical care.”
The cause of the fire on the fishing vessel will be investigated by SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) and by police.
Meanwhile the NSRI in Durban on Saturday responded to a request for a medical evacuation from a American-flagged heavy-lift motor vessel for 58-year-old male Chief Engineer suffering from a cardiac condition.
The medical evacuation operation took place in hospital and the man was taken to hospital.
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