26 saved & environmental disaster averted

A coordinated effort between various Cape Town-based rescue services led to the safe containment and crew rescue of a fishing vessel that caught fire off Cape Point.

Watch video footage here.

When Stations 8 (Hout Bay) and 10 (Simon’s Town) received an alert in the early hours of Friday, 14 April, after a fishing vessel caught fire off Cape Point, the initial report put the crew tally at 38. Emergency services were put on alert.

“Simon’s Town’s station is closer, and they have a larger vessel, an ORC, so Donna Nicholas was launched from Station 10 to respond. However, 38 is still too many passengers for an ORC, plus crew, and so Hout Bay launched rescue crafts Nadine Gordimer and Albie Matthews to assist,” says Station 8 commander Spencer Oldham.

Enroute, both stations were informed that another fishing vessel, the Umfondini, had diverted to assist with the rescue, and had safely boarded the survivors after they had abandoned their blazing vessel for a life raft – an extraordinary feat that required superior rescue skills. However, the crew only comprised of 26, not 38, as originally reported.

“This meant that Station 10’s ORC had sufficient capacity to transport the casualty crew back to Simon’s Town without our assistance, so we headed back to base,” says Spencer.

Once aboard the Umfondini, it was confirmed that none of the casualty crew were injured and all were accounted for and safe. They were brought to the shelter of Buffels Bay where they were transferred onto the Donna Nicholas and taken to NSRI Simons Town, where they were then transported by road to their home base in Hout Bay.

“All the crew were in good spirits and uninjured,” says Station 10 Senior Coxswain Darren Zimmerman.

It was apparent by the manner in which the casualty and Umfondini crews conducted themselves that they were well-managed. The NSRI commend the captain and crew of both vessels, and the manner in which they dealt with the emergency. They are the heroes in this incident. The mere fact that there was no loss of life or injuries speaks to the level of safety training that both crews had received.

It's not yet known what caused the fire, but the captain and crew confirmed that it started in the engine room.

Environmental disaster looms

“Later that day, at about 5.30pm, we received another call,” says Spencer. “The estimated 80 ton fishing vessel – filled with fish, diesel and other pollutants – was adrift and heading towards shore, at risk of running aground near Scarborough, south of Kommetjie. If that happened, it could cause an environmental disaster that the area would not recover from for many years.”

Tug boat Strandloper was dispatched to tow the casualty vessel out to sea, where it could sink without causing undue damage – however, it would take three hours for it to reach the smouldering vessel, by which time it could run aground.

The NSRI Hout Bay rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and the NSRI Kommetjie rescue craft Spirit of the Vines were scrambled to respond.

“We arrived at around sunset,” says Hout Bay duty coxswain Lyall Pringle. “The hull was still hot, belching acrid smoke, and the water around it sizzling.”

Unfortunately, the rudder had jammed and was locked to starboard, which would hamper towing efforts.

Hout Bay Rescue Swimmer Dean Morrison boarded the smouldering vessel and made his way to the bow. Much of the deck was wood, so it was possible to see where it was stable and able to hold his weight – although that didn’t stop his booties from beginning to melt.

Nadine Gordimer manoeuvred to throw the tow line to Dean, which was then securely attached, and for the next two hours, the crew battled against a breeze and swells that were pushing the boat towards shore, with a locked rudder. To make matters worse, the 40mm polypropylene heavy tow rope was both fraying and melting, and had to be adjusted several times to avoid breaking. Finally, however, at around 8.30pm, the Strandloper arrived to tow the wreckage out to sea. The tow was transferred to the Strandloper, and the NSRI crew headed back to base.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Wreckage contained

“At about 7.30 on Saturday morning, another call came in,” says Spencer. “A burning vessel was being towed towards Hout Bay harbour.”

Indeed, the very same burning vessel that Strandloper had towed out to sea, had failed to sink, and was now being brought back to shore.

The Strandloper deposited the still-smouldering vessel alongside the jetty, while Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services (CTFRS) doused the vessel. In collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and a salvage company, CTFRS secured barriers around the vessel to prevent any pollution spilling into the ocean. A Western Cape Government Health EMS ambulance was on site to assist, though no injuries were sustained.

“It took two days to unload all the half-burnt, rotting fish from the boat,” says Spencer. “the stench of which hung around the bay for the duration – as well as the diesel and any major pollutants.”

The NSRI commends all involved, particularly the SAMSA Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and Telkom Maritime Radio Services’ swift communication coordination with all involved, well as Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), CTFRS and Police Sea Borderline Control – for their ongoing efforts to contain any environmental threat.

The casualty vessel owners have appointed salvors to assess salvage options.