NSRI – STRUISBAAI – Search for a missing fisherman:

There remain no signs of a local 31 year old male fisherman who went missing from a local charter fishing boat offshore of Struisbaai on Saturday. NSRI are appealing to the local Maritime community to keep a sharp lookout.

Jaco Louw, NSRI Agulhas deputy station commander, said:

At 06h30, Saturday, 8 March, NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated following reports of a local male fisherman, from the Eastern Cape and living and working in Struisbaai, reported missing off a local charter fishing boat in the early hours of Saturday morning and suspected to have gone overboard.

The fishing vessel launched at around 05h00, from Struisbaai Harbour, and on reaching fishing grounds, at the 5-mile Banks, approximately 4.2 nautical miles offshore of Struisbaai Harbour, while preparing to initiate fishing operations, it was discovered that their colleague was no longer on the boat from unknown circumstances and the alarm was raised.

The fishing vessel had initiated a search for their colleague while an NSRI Agulhas coxswain, on a private fishing boat nearby, they joined in the search operation.

NSRI Agulhas station 30 duty crew responded to the NSRI Agulhas rescue base where the NSRI Agulhas rescue craft Rescue 30 was launched.

The SA Police Services responded to the NSRI Agulhas rescue base.

At least an additional 5 local commercial and recreational fishing vessels, in the area at the time, diverted to assist in extensive search operations. 

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) alerted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre). Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast a maritime all ships alert requesting vessels in the area to assist in the search and to keep a sharp lookout for the missing fisherman.

Ski-boat Mobile issued an alert to their fleet of commercial and recreational craft in the area to remain vigil.

The SA Navy Valour-class frigate, SAS Amatola, that was in the area at the time, joined in the search operation.

Search grid patterns, taking into account wind speed and direction and sea currents, were plotted and search operations were coordinated by NSRI Agulhas.

Despite the extensive search, involving at least 10 vessels, there remains no signs of the missing fisherman.

Police and SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) have launched an investigation.

All ships alerts are continuing to be broadcast, and we are appealing to the local Maritime community to keep a sharp lookout.

Thoughts, care and compassion, are with the family, friends and colleagues of the missing fisherman in this difficult time.