TABLE BAY – Alleged stowaway rescued:

The life-raft was located East of Robben Island by the Police Sea Borderline officers who recovered the man from the life-raft before transferring him to the Sea Rescue boat. Picture Robyn Silverstone / NSRISEA RESCUE – TABLE BAY – Sunday 24th February, 2013.At 22h27 on Sunday 24th February NSRI Table Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of a stowaway adrift at sea on a life-raft in the vicinity of East of Robben Island.Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander said our Table Bay duty crew launched SPIRIT OF VODACOM and the SA Police Services Sea Borderline also responded.It was reported that the SAFMARINE ship CHA CHAI, lying at anchor at 4 Buoy in Table Bay, waiting to enter the Port of Table Bay, had noticed an unidentified man launching a life-raft from their ship. The life-raft was successfully launched by the man but he was drifting towards Robben Island and the ship requested assistance from the Transnet National Ports Authority.On arrival on-scene a search commenced and in full moon good sea conditions the life-raft was located East of Robben Island by the Police boat and Police Sea Borderline officers recovered the man from the life-raft.The man, a 19 year old from Libya, was then recovered onto our sea rescue craft and he was medically checked by our NSRI medics and although dressed only in a pair of shorts he was found to be suffering only mild dehydration.The life-raft was returned to the ship.The Police boat escorted our sea rescue craft with the man on board to our sea rescue base and a Netcare 911 ambulance was dispatched to further evaluate the medical condition of the man. He was in a satisfactory condition suffering only mild dehydration.He was taken to the Table Bay Port Police Station and he remains in Police custody. The operation was completed at 01h30.The man, who speaks very good English, told NSRI rescuers that he was from Jobey, in Libya, and that he had boarded the ship in Ghana as a stowaway and says that he was not aware where the ship was headed.Police are investigating and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have been informed.Pictures are available from Sea Rescue's Flickr page. The life raft was returned to the Cha Chai.