Monday, 18 May. Incident: Durban, Robben Island, Port Elizabeth:  

DURBANJonathan Kellerman, NSRI Durban station commander, said:At 09h58, Monday, 18 May, NSRI Durban duty crew, accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics, launched the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie and rendezvoused with a cruise liner approaching Durban to patient evacuate a 26 year old New Zealand crewman suffering a medical complaint.The ship that was deep sea yesterday off-shore of the Transkei was instructed to head towards the Port of Durban after a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor in communications with the ships medical crew confirmed that the patient required hospital care as soon as possible.Our NSRI sea rescue craft rendezvoused with the ship 3 nautical miles off-shore of Durban and an NSRI rescue swimmer and a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic boarded the ship.The paramedic took over care of the patient from the ships medical crew and the patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft without incident.The patient, in a stable condition and in the care of the paramedic, was brought to our NSRI Durban sea rescue base and he has been transported to hospital by a Netcare 911 ambulance.All Covid-19 precautions and protocols were observed during the operation.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Netcare 911 duty coordinators, NSRI Durban duty controllers, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health Authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.ROBBEN ISLAND:Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said:At 11h21, Monday, 18 May, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) to fetch an injured Penguin at Robben Island.Rangers on Robben Island had found the Penguin injured with a wire embedded in its leg.They had captured the Penguin and alerted SANCCOB who asked NSRI to collect the bird on their behalf.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom was launched and on arrival at the Island the Penguin, secured safely in a box to prevent further injury, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to our NSRI Table Bay sea rescue base without incident and collected at our base by SANCCOB.The Penguin is in the care of Vets at SANCCOB for treatment and rehabilitation and reportedly doing well.PORT ELIZABETH:Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:At 14h25, Friday, 15 May, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, to rendezvous with a bulk carrier motor vessel approaching Port Elizabeth to patient evacuate a 49 year old Filipino sailor suffering a medical emergency.The ship that was deep sea at the time passing the South African coastline was instructed to head towards the nearest Port at Port Elizabeth after a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor in communications with the ships medical crew confirmed that the patient required hospital care as soon as possible.Our NSRI sea rescue craft rendezvoused with the ship 10 nautical miles off-shore of Port Elizabeth and an NSRI rescue swimmer and the EMS rescue paramedic boarded the ship.The paramedic took over care of the patient from the ships medical crew and aided by a safety line and a harness the patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft.The patient, in a stable condition and in the care of the paramedic, was brought to our NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue base and he has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance.All Covid-19 precautions and protocols were observed during the operation.

NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, EC Government Health EMS, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health Authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.