Geoff Stephens, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:At 11h09, Wednesday, 01 July, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local fishing trawler reporting engine failure approximately 7 nautical miles off-shore of Llandudno.The NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft, that was being prepared by NSRI Bakoven crew to be moved from a Cape Grace, V&A Waterfront, mooring back to her NSRI Bakoven Base was launched and NSRI Hout Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Albie Matthews and the two sea rescue craft responded to the scene.Our NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue vehicle was dispatched to Rocket Road, Llandudno, to assist with VHF marine radio relay communications.NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated and prepared to launch the deep-sea sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom.On arrival in the area and following a brief search the NSRI Bakoven and NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft arrived at the casualty vessel finding her 4 crew onboard to be safe and their vessel dead in the water with engine failure from unknown causes.NSRI Table Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom.NSRI Hout Bay remained with the casualty vessel as a safety precaution and the NSRI Bakoven sea rescue craft returned to her base.On NSRI Table Bay arriving on the scene a towline was rigged to the casualty vessel from the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom and the casualty vessel was towed to Hout Bay harbour without incident, accompanied by the sea rescue craft Albie Matthews.On arrival outside of Hout Bay harbour the casualty vessel was rafted alongside Spirit of Vodacom and brought to her moorings and on being safely moored no further assistance was required.Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with marine VHF radio communications during the operation.The operation completed at 17h00 with all sea rescue craft involved in this operation safely back at their home bases, rehoused and replenished.
