Combined efforts in assisting 26 casualties off a vessel on fire off Cape Point

At 00:40 NSRI Simon’s Town were activated by the NSRI Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) following reports of a 35m Hout Bay based support vessel ablaze South of Cape Point.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Telkom Maritime Radio Services were coordinating a response to the vessel ablaze and all shipping traffic in the area had been alerted in an all-ships alert on marine VHF radio to divert to assist if possible.

The cargo vessel Aquaexplorer and the fishing vessel Umfondini diverted to assist. The casualty boat crew of 26 abandoned their vessel that was reported to be well ablaze into a life raft. They were rescued onto the fishing vessel Umfondini. NSRI Hout Bay were also activated, and they dispatched the two NSRI rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and Albie Matthews and NSRI Simon’s Town dispatched the NSRI rescue vessel Donna Nicholas.

The Transnet National Ports Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, NSRI Simon’s Town duty controllers, NSRI Hout Bay duty controllers and the NSRI’s EOC assisted MRCC in the coordination of the rescue operation.

The 26-casualty crew were not injured and all were accounted for and safe on board the Umfondini. They were brought to the shelter of Buffels Bay where they were transferred onto the NSRI Simon’s Town rescue craft Donna Nicholas and brought to NSRI Simon's Town. They were then transported by road to their home base in Hout Bay.

NSRI commend the swift response of all involved. A vessel has reported sighting the life raft adrift at sea South of Cape point and at this stage no efforts are underway to recover the life raft.

MRCC and Telkom maritime radio services confirmed reports of the hull located adrift on the Atlantic Seaboard side of Cape Point and drifting in a North-Westly direction.