RICHARDS BAY:Chris Peens, NSRI Richards Bay coxswain, said:At 11h50, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a Mayday distress call, intercepted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services, from a local ski-boat reporting that they had capsized with 3 crew onboard, off-shore of Port Dunford Lighthouse, approximately 2 nautical miles off-shore.Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay was launched and on arrival on the scene all 3 local adult males of the casualty boat were accounted for and they were on the local ski-boat Young Guns who had responded to their Mayday distress call.All 3 casualty crew had been rescued onto the ski-boat Young Guns and they were not injured.2 of the casualty crew were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and one remained onboard Young Guns.We righted the casualty craft at sea and towed the casualty craft to the Port of Richards Bay where the casualty boat was recovered.The ski-boat Young Guns brought the remaining casualty crewman into the Port and once all three men were safely ashore and their boat was recovered they required no further assistance.NSRI commend the skipper and crew of the ski-boat Young Guns for their swift response and assistance on the scene.
KOMMETJIE:Johnathan Bakker, NSRI Kommetjie deputy station commander said:At 15h40, Saturday, 30 January, NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated following reports of a rubber duck believed to be having difficulty navigating their way through the channel at the Kommetjie slip way.Two concerned residents had called NSRI reporting that a small boat appeared to be navigating too close to the kelp beds in the Kommetjie channel and appeared to be entering dangerous surf zones and they were concerned for the safety of the boat.Our duty crew responded and the sea rescue craft IL Batello was launched.On arrival on the scene we found a 4.7 meter RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) with one local man onboard.The man confirmed that he was having difficulty and that he was not confident to navigate his craft through the narrow channel between the kelp beds in the rough sea conditions that prevailed.We instructed him to follow our sea rescue craft through the channel and we would lead him safely to the slipway.He followed our sea rescue craft safely to shore without incident.His craft was safely recovered and he required no further assistance.
