Crew rescued after tug loses anchor off Durban in heavy seas

FIVE crew members were rescued in a complex overnight maritime operation off the coast of Durban after a Malaysian-flagged tug towing a 100-metre barge lost its anchor and began drifting in heavy seas.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday evening when the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Port of Durban Port Control alerted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) that the tug was struggling to maintain its position approximately three nautical miles offshore.

According to NSRI Durban station commander Etienne van Zyl, the tug was operating in strong north-easterly winds of about 25 knots and sea swells of between two and three metres, making it unsafe to stabilise the tow.

"A crew transfer was attempted but deemed unsafe, as the barge was only equipped with a short aluminium ladder tied to the railings, which was unsuitable given the prevailing sea conditions," he said. 

TNPA dispatched the larger AMSOL tug Nomasa to take over the operation, while NSRI crews were placed on standby. At 7pm, two NSRI rescue craft, Alick Rennie and Spirit of Surfski 6, were launched to assist.

The rescue vessels reached the tug and barge about eight nautical miles south of the Port of Durban, where deteriorating conditions had continued to push the vessels further offshore.

Van Zyl said that on arrival, the crew of the Nomasa requested NSRI’s assistance to transfer five crew members from the barge onto the Malaysian tug. The additional crew was needed to release the existing tow and secure the barge to the Nomasa.

With the barge crew having run out of supplies, Spirit of Surfski 6 was tasked to ferry food and water from the Malaysian tug to the barge. The transfer was successfully completed at the stern, where a favourable lee offered some protection from the swell.

During this phase, the Nomasa advised that it had a proper pilot ladder available. The ladder was collected by NSRI and transferred to the barge, where it was securely rigged at the aft section.

Two NSRI Maritime Extrication (MEX) crew members were then transferred onto the barge. The five crew members who were Kenyan and Malaysian nationals, were fitted with safety harnesses and personal protective equipment.

Using the pilot ladder and additional safety lines, all five crew members were safely transferred from the barge onto Spirit of Surfski 6 and then taken, under difficult conditions, onto the towing tug. The two NSRI MEX crew members also returned safely to the rescue craft.

Throughout the operation, strong winds and sea currents caused the tug and barge to drift a further five nautical miles south but the operation was concluded in the early hours of Thursday morning. No one suffered any injuries.

“All involved, NSRI, TNPA, AMSOL and the foreign crews of the affected vessels, are commended for their efforts during this challenging operation,” Van Zyl said.