Yacht aground off Robben Island

According to Marc de Vos, NSRI Table Bay station commander, at 19h59, Tuesday, 8 June, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) following a Mayday distress call from a local 45 foot yacht reporting to be run aground on the Eastern side of Robben Island.

The 3 local crew reported to be in no imminent danger. MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority - Port Control), NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Bakoven, Police Sea Borderline Control, WC Government Health EMS - Metro Control, the Police Dive Unit, CoCT (City of Cape Town) Law Enforcement Marine Unit and CoCT Fire and Rescue Services - Fire Dive Unit, were placed on alert.

Communications were assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services. The sea rescue craft Spirit of Day and Spirit of Vodacom were launched while DEFF (Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries) officers approached the area from the land side.

On arrival on the scene, in calm seas and dense fog, the vessel was found to be hard aground and listing. A rescue swimmer was deployed to swim and wade to the vessel.In relays of one at a time the 3 casualty crew were assisted to shore by the NSRI rescue swimmer and they were assisted by DEFF officers on the land side. Efforts to pull the yacht off the rocks were investigated but in the low tide the effort was abandoned and an anchor was deployed to attempt to hold the yacht away from the shore at high tide that was due in the early hours of the morning.

Disaster Risk Management control were then alerted. The owner and salvors will attempt to salvage the yacht today, Wednesday, 9 June. The 3 men, aged 48, 52 and 66, from Durbanville, were brought to our NSRI Table Bay sea rescue station aboard our sea rescue craft and they were transported to their vehicles. They were not injured and no further assistance was required.The operation completed at 01h00.