Incidents at East London, Durban and Gqeberha

NSRI duty crew in East London, Durban and Gqeberha kept busy over the last few days

EAST LONDON:

Geoff McGregor, NSRI East London rescue coordinator, said:

NSRI East London were alerted at 16h00, Sunday, 30 October, to a 12 meter yacht sailing against strong winds from Durban towards East London after both motors failed.

The solo skipper had requested assistance.

Transnet National Ports Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) and NSRI East London duty controllers monitored the yachts progress.

On approaching towards East London our NSRI duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of DHL and rendezvoused with the yacht 2 nautical miles off-shore.

A towline was established and without incident we towed the yacht into the Port of East London where she was berthed and no further assistance was required.

Following repairs the local skipper is preparing to continue on a voyage to Cape Town.

DURBAN:

Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:
NSRI Durban duty crew were activated by Transnet National Ports Authority at at 16h20, Monday, 31 October, to patient evacuate a 19 year old British female, suffering a medical complaint, from a car carrier motor vessel off-shore of Durban.

Accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics we launched the sea rescue craft Alec Rennie at 18h56 and rendezvoused with the vessel at the outer anchorage.

The patient, secured into a life-jacket, safety harness and a safety line, was brought onboard our rescue craft and in the care of paramedics we brought her to our NSRI Durban rescue station.

She has been transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance in a stable condition and she is recovering in hospital.

The operation completed at 21h00.

GQEBERHA:

Sean Lunnon, NSRI Gqeberha operation coxswain, said:

At 15h45, Monday, 31 October, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted by a shipping agent of a 39 year old Filipino male crewman who had slipped and suffered injuries onboard a bulk carrier motor vessel at anchorage in Algoa Bay.

MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) requested Transnet National Ports Authority to activate an NSRI response.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 4, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, was launched at 18h20.

In moderate South Easterly winds and sea swells of 2.5 to 3 meters we rendezvoused with the bulk carrier
where 2 NSRI rescue swimmers were put onboard to access the patient and initiate medical treatment.

The patient was secured into a safety harness and life jacket and transferred onto our rescue craft.

In the care of the paramedic we brought the patient to our NSRI Gqeberha rescue station where the patient was taken into the care of BesMed paramedics and transported to hospital in a stable condition by BesMed ambulance.

The operation completed at 20h00.