Willem Lubbe, NSRI Yzerfontein station commander, said:
At 08h36, Saturday, 25 July, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated following reports of a local fishing vessel with 10 crew onboard taking water 9 nautical miles off-shore of Yzerfontein.
Our NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew responded to our sea rescue base and our sea rescue craft Rotary Onwards was launched carrying a water extrication pump.
While responding to the scene updated reports received from the fishing vessel suggested she was sinking.
On arrival on the scene we found a fellow fishing vessel standing-by on the scene to assist if necessary with the casualty fishing vessel lying deep in the water heavy laden from the intake of water reportedly from a leaking seal.
Efforts were underway by the fishing crew to recover her fishing nets that were deployed in the water and the fellow fishing vessel Towerkop assisted the casualty fishing vessel crew to lift and recover her fishing nets.
2 of our NSRI rescue swimmers were transferred onto the casualty fishing vessel and the water extrication pump was put to work pumping water free while her fishing crew replaced a leaking seal which once it had been replaced intake of water was considerably reduced.
From a combination of the reduced water intake from the replaced seal and from pumping water out of the casualty vessel her buoyancy was restored and after her fishing nets were lifted and recovered she was able to get underway under her own motor power and begin motoring towards her home Port at St Helena Bay harbour.
At 12h30 NSRI were released from the scene and the casualty vessel motored to St Helena Bay harbour accompanied by her fellow fishing vessel Towerkop.
NSRI returned to base and remained on alert until it was later confirmed that the casualty fishing vessel was safe at St Helena Bay harbour and no further assistance was required.
NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, NSRI Yzerfontein duty controllers and Transnet National Ports Authority assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.
There were no injuries reported and NSRI commend the swift action taken by all involved to quickly and effectively avert a maritime disaster.
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