Medical evacuations from vessels at sea - Durban, Mossel Bay and Gqeberha:

DURBAN: Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: At 10H18, Wednesday, 05 March, NSRI Durban duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for the medical evacuation of an Norwegian seaman, age 48, suffering a medical complaint on board a Chemical Tanker, that was due to arrive offshore of the Port of Durban at 08H00, the following morning.

NSRI Durban duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Port Health Authorities, A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Red Line ambulance services and Police Sea Borderline Control, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.

At 08h00 on Thursday 6 March 2025, the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched, accompanied by a Red Line ambulance service rescue paramedic, and we rendezvoused with the vessel 3 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban.

In challenging sea conditions, southerly 15 knot winds and in excess of 3-metre swells, the motor vessel created a lee for our rescue craft to come safely alongside where 2 NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crewmen and the Red Line rescue paramedic were transferred onto the bulk carrier.

The patient, in the care of the ships medical crew, was medically assessed by the paramedic and in a stable condition, secured into a harness, life-jacket and safety line, he was transferred onto our rescue craft followed by the rescue crew.

The patient, in the care of the paramedic, was brought to our NSRI station 5 rescue base onboard the Alick Rennie rescue craft and he was transported to hospital by Red Line ambulance for further medical care.

MOSSEL BAY:

JC Roos, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said:

At 13h22, Wednesday, 5 March, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local fishing vessel reporting a crew member, a local 20-year-old male fisherman, injured onboard.

A fishing hook had lodged in the fisherman's left hand while at fishing grounds.

They were 80 nautical miles offshore of Mossel Bay and had lifted fishing lines and were returning towards Mossel Bay.

Our NSRI rescue craft St Blaise Rescuer was launched and we rendezvoused with the fishing vessel 16 nautical miles offshore.

The patient, in a stable condition, was transferred onto our rescue craft and in the care of NSRI medics we brought the man to our NSRI Mossel Bay station 15 rescue base where he was transported to the hospital to have the fishhook removed and further medical care.

The fisherman is recovering.

GQEBERHA:

Mike Whittal, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain, said:

At 20h55, Monday, 3 March, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted to prepare for the medical evacuation of a 56 year old British man who had sustained an injury onboard a cruise liner.

The cruise liner was heading towards Algoa Bay.

Our NSRI rescue craft Recue 6 was launched, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic and an NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew.

In 20 to 25-knot Easterly winds and 2 to 3 metre sea swells we rendezvoused with the cruise liner at the Fairway channel marker bouy, outside the entrance of the Port of Port Elizabeth.

2 NSRI MEX crewmen and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onto the cruise liner where the casualty, in a stable condition, in the care of the ships medical staff, was taken into the care of the EMS rescue paramedic

Walking wounded, the patient, secured into a safety harness and a life-jacket, and assisted by the rescuers, he was transferred onto our NSRI rescue vessel.

In the care of the EMS rescue paramedic the patient was transported to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance for further medical treatment, where he is recovering. 

NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, Port Health Authorities, A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, EC Government Health EMS Metro Control and Police Sea Borderline Control, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.