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  • 68 people rescued off sinking Ferry

68 people rescued off sinking Ferry

Rescue / 15 September 2017

Picture attached: By NSRI Table Bay of crew and passenger transfer taking place at sea

Picture attached: All passengers and crew of the casualty ferry “Thandi” were transferred by NSRI’s Spirit of Day from the casualty ferry and from life rafts onto the Madiba 1 and onto NSRI’s Spirit of Vodacom and brought to the Port of Table Bay where they were assessed by paramedics and only a few passengers were treated for mild hypothermia.

 

Update: NSRI tow the passenger ferry to Robben Island:

 

Quentin Botha, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said:  Following the successful rescue of passengers from the Robben Island passenger ferry Thandi and once all of the casualty crew and passengers were safely taken to the Port of Table Bay the NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom went back out to sea to join the NSRI Headquarters sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table and the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft Albie Matthews (on the scene at the listing casualty ferry) and a towline was rigged from the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom onto the casualty ferry and the casualty ferry was towed to Murray’s Bay harbour at Robben Island.

Once safely berthed water extrication pumps were used by NSRI crew and the casualty ferry was pumped free of water and re-floated and secured to a berthing where she remains berthed at Murray’s Bay harbour, Robben Island.

Picture attached: By NSRI Table Bay. The casualty ferry being towed by the NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom into Murray’s Bay harbour, and escorted by the NSRI Headquarters sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table and the NSRI Hout Bay Bay sea rescue craft Albie Matthews (both in picture).

Corrections:

Only one Police Sea Borderline Police boat was dispatched. The second boat was a DAFF (Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries) boat.
Community Medics also responded and Community Medics paramedics assisted in the coordination at the triage post that was set up.
Only one local passenger and one local employee were transported to hospital as a precaution.

Original Media Release

Quentin Botha, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said: At 14h18, Friday, 15th September, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a Mayday distress call from the Robben Island passenger ferry Thandi reporting to be taking water.

The NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft Spirit of Day and Spirit of Vodacom were launched to join the Robben Island passenger ferry Madiba 1 that were already on the scene.

NSRI Bakoven launched the sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper, NSRI Hout Bay launched the sea rescue craft Albie Matthews, NSRI Melkbosstrand launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Brenda and a private boat, NSRI Headquarters launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table, the Police Sea Borderline launched 2 Police craft and the TNPA Pilot boat Petrel responded.

The AMS/EMS Skymed rescue helicopter and the ASR (Air Sea Rescue) and a SAAF (SA Air Force) Oryx helicopter were activated. Skymed was later stood down and the SAAF Oryx remained on alert but was not required to respond.

Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services dive unit, WC Government Health EMS rescue and ambulance, City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management, ER24 ambulance services and Netcare 911 ambulance services responded.  A Police Dive Unit were placed on alert.

MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) were alerted and Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with radio communications during the operation.

There were reported to be 68 passengers in total which included the 4 crew of the ferry.

A JOC (Joint Operations Control) was set up at the Transnet National Ports Authority Control Tower and rescue craft were directed from the NSRI Table Bay rescue base.

On arrival on the scene the ferry was found to be listing to one side from water intake from unknown causes and some of the passengers were found to be in life rafts.  The remaining crew and passengers were on the deck of the casualty ferry.

All passengers and crew of the casualty ferry were transferred by NSRI “Spirit of Day” from the casualty ferry and from life rafts onto the Madiba 1 and onto NSRI’s Spirit of Vodacom and brought to the Port of Table Bay where they were assessed by paramedics and only a few passengers were treated for mild hypothermia.

One passenger from the ferry Thandi, a woman, was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition suffering from back pain. One passenger from the ferry Madiba 1, a woman, was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition suffering from anxiety.

All passengers and crew are accounted for. As the rescue operation progressed some of the resources were stood down no longer required.

SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) are alerted and an investigation into the cause of the vessel taking water will be investigated.

Efforts are being made to recover the ferry.

TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE

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    Emergency Numbers

    Sea Rescue emergency number from your cell phone: 112

    NORTHERN CAPE

    063 698 8971       Port Nolloth


    WESTERN CAPE

    060 960 3027      Lamberts Bay
    082 990 5966      Mykonos
    082 990 5974      Yzerfontein
    082 990 5958      Melkbosstrand
    082 990 5963      Table Bay
    082 990 5962      Bakoven
    082 990 5964      Hout Bay
    082 990 5979      Kommetjie
    082 990 5965      Simon’s Town
    082 990 6753      Strandfontein
    072 448 8482      Gordon’s Bay
    082 990 5967      Hermanus
    082 990 5952      Agulhas
    082 990 5957      Witsand
    082 990 5978      Still Bay
    082 990 5954      Mossel Bay
    082 990 5955      Wilderness
    082 990 5956      Knysna
    082 990 5975      Plettenberg Bay
    072 446 6344      Theewaterskloof Dam
    082 990 5980      Air Sea Rescue Unit


    EASTERN CAPE 

    082 990 5968      Oyster Bay
    082 990 5969      St Francis Bay
    079 916 0390      Jeffreys Bay
    082 990 0828      Port Elizabeth
    082 990 5971      Port Alfred
    082 990 5972      East London
    082 550 5430      Port St Johns


    KZN  

    082 990 5951      Port Edward
    082 990 5950      Shelly Beach
    072 652 5158      Rocky Bay
    060 305 4803      Ballito
    082 990 5948      Durban
    082 990 5949      Richards Bay


    MPUMALANGA

    060 962 2620      Witbank Dam


    GAUTENG  

    060 991 9301      Gauteng


    NORTH WEST

    082 990 5961      Hartbeespoort Dam


    FREE STATE

    072 903 9572      Vaal Dam

     


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