FALSE BAY:Andrew de Kock, NSRI Simon's Town duty coxswain, said:At 13h31, Wednesday, 13th of May, NSRI Simon's Town duty crew were placed on alert following investigations that were initiated after a local Kalk Bay fishing trawler skipper reported to NSRI Simon's Town duty controllers that their fishing trawler was at anchor in Pringle Bay after experiencing engine failure since Tuesday and although her 6 crew and the trawler were safe they had been trying to get a tow to Kalk Bay but they were unable to arrange for a tow.During investigations it was agreed that NSRI Gordon's Bay would launch a sea rescue craft to proceed to the fishing trawler and initiate a tow towards Kalk Bay and NSRI Simon's Town would launch a sea rescue craft and take over the tow of the casualty trawler from NSRI Gordon's Bay once they get closer, in False Bay.NSRI Gordon's Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Jack and Irene at 13h35 and the NSRI Simon's Town sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III was launched at 14h47.NSRI Gordon's Bay arrived at the casualty fishing trawler just after 14h00, in sea conditions of 3 to 3.5 meter swells and a stiff breeze, and they rigged a towline and a towing operation, heading towards Kalk Bay, commenced.Our NSRI Simon's Town sea rescue craft rendezvoused with them at 15h50 in False Bay, in sea conditions of approximately 3 meter swells and decreasing wind speeds, and we took over the tow of the casualty trawler from NSRI Gordon's Bay.NSRI Gordon's Bay returned base and with their involvement in the operation completed they refuelled their sea rescue craft and completed their mandatory boat checks in readiness for their next operation and the NSRI Gordon's Bay sea rescue base was closed at around 17h00.With sea conditions improving to 1.5 to 2 meter swells and wind dropping to almost zero wind speeds we towed the casualty trawler safely into Kalk Bay harbour arriving at 19h30.From the outset the joint NSRI operation progressed without incident and after the casualty trawler was safely moored in Kalk Bay harbour and with her casualty crew setting about to begin engine repairs we returned to base.On returning to base our NSRI Simon's Town duty crew refuelled our sea rescue craft and completed our mandatory boat checks in preparation for our next operation and we closed our NSRI Simon's Town sea rescue base at 20h52.
ST FRANCIS BAY:Garth Shamley, NSRI St Francis Bay duty coxswain, said:At 15h00 on Thursday, 14th of May, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were placed on alert following a request for medical assistance from a local fishing trawler reporting a local adult male fisherman onboard suffering a medical complaint.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), Transnet National Ports Authority, Port Health Authorities and a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor evaluated the situation and NSRI St Francis Bay were advised that the patient required evacuation to a hospital as soon as possible.The fishing trawler was deep sea at the time and in communications assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services her skipper was advised to head towards St Francis Bay and NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated and Private Care ambulance services were arranged.Our sea rescue craft launched just after 16h00 and we rendezvoused with the fishing trawler off-shore of the Port of St Francis.The patient, in a stable condition, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and he was brought to our sea rescue base and taken into the care of paramedics.A Private Care ambulance transported the patient to hospital where he was taken into the care of hospital staff for further medical care and he is expected to fully recover.Our NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew completed mandatory boat checks in preparation for our next operation and our sea rescue base was closed at 16h21. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity that saves lives on South African waters. Our goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, our rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. Our rescue crew receive no payment and neither do we charge the people we rescue. We visit schools around the country teaching children about water safety. Drowning prevention measures include our online training academy, with free courses for crew and the public, emergency signage, Pink Rescue Buoys for emergency flotation, rescue swimmers, lifeguards and active patrols during peak seasons.Our organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives and creating futures.
SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY: 112 or 087 094 9774
