Boat assisted at Port Alfred and Mossel Bay

MOSSEL BAY:Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said: 'At 09h02, Saturday, 28th June, NSRI Mossel Bay crew responded to assist the fishing trawler COLLEEN, reporting to have battery and electrical failure.“The owners provided a generator to be taken to the trawler. 26 nautical miles off Ystervark Point we rendezvoused with the trawler, with 7 crew onboard, in a calm sea state with 2 to 2.5 meter swell. The generator was transferred onboard and our sea rescue craft remained on-scene while the fishermen attempted to fix the electrical battery fault.“After attempts to rectify the electrical fault failed we took the trawler under tow and are towing them safely to harbour in Mossel Bay and we expect to arrive in Mossel Bay harbour at around 18h00.“Once safely berthed the owners will make repairs.”PORT ALFRED:Juan Pretorius, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said: 'At 10h21, Saturday, 28th June, NSRI Port Alfred crew were activated following a request for assistance from a dive charter boat expert tours reporting mechanical motor failure 2 nautical miles off Port Alfred with a skipper and 8 dive crew onboard and needing assistance through the Kowie River Mouth into the Port Alfred Harbour.“We launched our sea rescue craft LOTTO CHALLENGER and in big but calm seas, with a 3 to 4 meter gentle swell and light wind, the 8 dive crew and their equipment were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and safely brought to their hotel on the banks of the Kowie River aboard our sea rescue craft.“We returned to the casualty boat where the skipper had one motor working and was able to maintain a speed up to 25 knots on one motor. Satisfied that he could make it in through the river mouth, we monitored his progress and he brought his boat in safely without assistance and will make repairs.“The 8 divers, all adult males and females, two South Africans and the rest from Austria and from Germany, were jovial and good spirited.