Fishing vessel assisted off Gordon's Bay

At 19h51, Thursday, 25th August, NSRI Gordon's Bay and NSRI Simon's Town duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from the 9 meter fishing vessel Layla S, off-shore of Gordon's Bay, with 5 crew onboard, reporting motor mechanical failure and requiring assistance to get into Gordon's Bay harbour.With gusting gale force South Easterly winds of up to 70 knots a larger sea rescue craft was required to do the job and the Sea Rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III was launched from NSRI Simon's Town.An NSRI Gordon's Bay rescue swimmer was collected from the Gordon's Bay sea rescue base and on arrival on the scene the NSRI Gordon's Bay rescue swimmer was transferred onto the casualty craft to assist with rigging a tow line.A tow line was secured in extremely difficult working conditions due to the gusting gale force winds and the casualty vessel was towed safely into Gordon's Bay harbour and once safely moored no further assistance was required.The NSRI crew involved in the operation were commended for excellent seamanship in these difficult conditions.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE NSRI Simonstown Spirit of Safmarine III. Picture by Kevin Swart.