Fishermen ready to return to sea after vessel fire near SA's southern coast

The skipper of the Silver Dorado, Shaun Geswindt, says the crew is eager to return to the ocean after their vessel was recently engulfed in flames off Cape Recife. 

"The crew are ready to get back to sea,” he said in an interview this week. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said it was continuing to closely monitor the situation following the fire and grounding of the fishing vessel off Gqeberha, near Cape Recife Lighthouse on Monday.

SAMSA reported that swift action led to the safe evacuation of all 21 crew members, who were transferred to the harbour. The authority confirmed that "no injuries were reported" among the crew. Crew have said that Talhado has been supportive during this time by providing the necessary medical assistance and counselling, accommodation and food and replacing personal belongings.

The crew is eager to return to work, a testament to their love of fishing and to provide for their families. Some of them are ready, they have to provide for their families, and the only way for them to provide is to get back and work,” said Geswindt, who had been on his second trip with the Silver Dorado.

He previously spent four years aboard another vessel. He moved to Silver Dorado because “the bigger the boat, the more money you can produce and the more crew you have.”

His responsibility of overseeing a bigger crew when their vessel was engulfed in flames was put to the test. But he had to maintain the situation; he recalled this.

He recalled how his responsibility for overseeing a larger crew was severely tested when their vessel caught fire. Despite the danger, he stepped up.

“I’m still dealing with it, but I’m ready to go to sea,” he said. “I spoke to other guys as well, and the majority are willing to go to sea because that is where they have been for a chunk of their lives.”

Reflecting on their close-knit bond, Geswindt spoke of their unity, forged over nearly a decade of shared experiences. “We’re no longer a crew, we’re a family,” he said. While Talhado places a high priority on the safety of vessels and their crew, Geswindt expressed his commitment to heightened precautions.

He addressed social media critics who commented on the crew’s lack of use of the life raft during the fire. “The fire was at the top of the back of the boat, where the life raft is. There was no way to get to the life raft – it was the most dangerous area on the vessel,” he explained. 

Samsa has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The vessel remains grounded about 200 meters offshore. The Authority said a strong diesel smell and burnt debris were reported the day before, "the smell has lessened today." 

Progress in the recovery includes:

“It was a very rapid fire. Until now, we can only make assumptions about how the fire started, but we have no clue where or how it started.

“It was a huge fire, and the burning was excessively quick. We just had to keep the crew together until we abandoned the ship,” said the skipper.

Fellow crew member Mkhululi Pepeuma recounted the fear and uncertainty during the blaze. “We didn’t know where help would come from,” said Pepeuma, relieved that nearby vessels responded swiftly, facilitating their rescue.

All 21 fishermen managed to escape, with some attempting to swim to safety, a demonstration of camaraderie as the crew supported one another during their plight. Although shocked, many of the crew members, including Safety Officer Shaun Edward, expressed their readiness to return to sea.

• Collection of debris is underway, with two beach clean-up teams active.

• SANCCOB teams are on-site to monitor the wildlife impact, with "No affected seabirds having been reported yet."

• A professional salvaging team, appointed by the P&I Club, is preparing a clean-up and wreckage removal plan.

• Offshore recovery of equipment and machinery is planned over the next two to three days, "subject to wave energy conditions."

• A navigation warning remains active to alert mariners of potential debris hazards.

SAMSA concluded by stressing its commitment to a comprehensive response. "SAMSA is working closely with stakeholders, including TNPA, NSRI, and the Departments of Transport and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, to ensure safety, pollution prevention, and compliance with maritime regulations," the statement read. 

All public communications regarding this matter will be handled through the established Incident Management IMS headed by SAMSA.