– edited by Bev Mortimer
The crew were taken to shore on board NSRI sea rescue craft and one man with an injury was treated by NSRI medics and paramedics and taken to hospital when the NSRI reached shore yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 27 April) .
The 35 meter-long line fishing trawler sunk soon after the rescue.
The fishing trawler started taking on water in the early hours, about 30 nautical miles off-shore, South West of Port of Table Bay. It was taken under tow at about 6 am by another local fishing trawler and headed towards Hout Bay harbour, in an attempt to reach the harbour in good time. Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) were alerted but there was at that stage no imminent danger.
However, the situation deteriorated in changing as sea conditions, wind speeds and increasing sea swells and despite best efforts to expel water, the boat was in danger of capsizing. NSRI volunteer duty crews from Hout Bay’s rescue craft, Nadine Gordimer, and Table Bay’s, DHL Deliverer, were launched, accompanied by water pumps, including one from NSRI Simonstown crew. WC Government Health EMS, the SA Police Services, Police Sea Borderline Control and Police Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) were alerted.
NSRI Hout Bay and Table Bay stations’ crew members, who had been placed on alert at 9.30 am by MRCC went to assist the boat, heavily laden with water. The towline was released and the 22 crew abandoned their boat and got into a life raft from where they were taken aboard the NSRI rescue craft. The NSRI Table Bay rescue craft reached the casualty vessel late afternoon, 20 nautical miles off-shore of Oudekraal, in 3 to 4 meter swells and 35 knot, gusting to 40 knot, winds.
The skipper and crew of the fishing boat, who assisted the the casualty boat, were commended for gallant efforts to save the casualty fishing trawler
And the casualty crew of the sunken trawler were also commended for swiftly abandoning their vessel into life rafts. Plus the successful rescue of the 22 fishermen by NSRI Table Bay, in difficult conditions, is commended.
At Table Bay rescue station EMS paramedics attended to the injured man, who was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and he is recovering. The other 21 crew members were assessed by paramedics and they were released in good health.
The NSRI says it there is confidence that the casualty crew members will be back at sea soon
The environmental impact of the sunken fishing trawler is being assessed by authorities.
St Francis Chronicle 