Search Underway: A Man Missing at Sea in Algoa Bay

A 31 year old male Indian national remains missing at sea. We are appealing to mariners in Algoa Bay and beyond and public members along the Gqeberha shoreline to be vigilant.

The SA Police Services and WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) have been alerted.

It is believed that at around (between)17h00 and 18h00, on Saturday, 2 March, a MOB (Man Overboard) alarm was sounded from a container motor vessel about 6 nautical miles off-shore East of Cape Recife after crew onboard the vessel noticed their fellow seaman missing.

A search of the vessel revealed no signs of the man who was declared to be missing and suspected to have gone overboard.

Maritime authorities were alerted and the motor vessel initiated a search while an all ships alert was broadcast.

NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted at 20h12.

NSRI Gqeberha operations controllers and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) assisted maritime authorities to plan search grids – initially information indicated that the incident (MOB) may have occurred further East and NSRI Port Alfred was also alerted.

At first light on Sunday morning the NSRI Gqeberha rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha joined an extensive search operation.

Despite an extensive sea search there remains no signs of the missing man.

An all ships alert continues to be broadcast by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.

NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, the SA Police Services and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, in cooperation with the container motor vessel and vessels at sea, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and coordination of the search operation.

Our thoughts are with the family of the missing man and his fellow crew in this difficult time.