Safety Alert and incidents - Shelly Beach, Richards Bay, Simons Town:

SAFETY ALERT: NSRI, Police and the Emergency Services are appealing to the maritime community, shoreline anglers, paddlers, sailors and coastal walkers/hikers to be cautious during the cold front currently being experienced around the South Western Cape coastline on Wednesday and spreading to the Southern Cape and East Coast in places.

SAWS (South African Weather Services) have issued alerts forecasting high winds and heavy sea conditions, with waves of 4 to 6 meters. Rough sea conditions are being experienced.
 
We are appealing to the public and to the maritime community to follow SAWS weather forecasts and to exercise caution during this time.
 
Don’t venture down to the coastline or launch to go to sea unless absolutely necessary.

Commercial seafarers, sailors and fishermen who are at sea during this time – wear your life jackets while at sea and exercise caution.

SHELLY BEACH:

Melodie Herrmann, NSRI Shelly Beach duty controller, said:

At 06h57, Tuesday, 24 June, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated following reports of 2 men fallen overboard a local charter fishing boat that was launching through the surf zone to go to sea.

NSRI crew and Med-Evac ambulance services responded and while responding it was confirmed that both men were safely ashore.

The 2 casualties were assessed by NSRI and Med-Evac paramedics and despite a few bumps and bruises they required no further medical care.

The charter fishing boat skipper and crew are commended for ensuring all onboard were secured safely into life-jackets and the swift assistance by public members and the Shelly Beach beach office is commended.

RICHARDS BAY:

Manie le Roux, NSRI Richards Bay deputy station commander, said:

At 12h37, Saturday, 21 June, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a boat capsized in the vicinity of Pelican Island in the Port of Richards Bay.

Our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Richards Bay station 19 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB Rescue 19 Bravo was launched.

It was reported that 2 local boats were on the scene assisting one man (the skipper) and six females (passengers) from the water at a 7 meter harbour cruise boat that had capsized.

On arrival on the scene we found that a local boat, Good Samaritans, had recovered all 7 casualties from the water and had brought them safely to the Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club. All casualties were accounted for and there were no injuries.

Assisted by a local ski-boat our NSRI rescue craft towed the casualty boat to the Richards Bay Ski-Boat Club where the casualty boat was righted by the owner and recovered.

The swift response and assistance of the local Good Samaritans on their private boats is commended.

SIMONS TOWN:

Sharon Crowthar, NSRI Simons Town duty coxswain, said:

At 13h07, Saturday, 21 June, NSRI Simons Town duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a Hobie Cat sailing craft appearing to be dismasted North West of Roman Rock Lighthouse with 2 male casualties reportedly in the water.

Shortly after receiving the eyewitness report a red distress flare was sighted coming from the vicinity of the incident.

Our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Simons Town station 10 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Jack&Irene was launched.

NSRI Simons Town coast watchers were alerted when a second red distress flare was sighted - at that stage the casualty sailing craft appeared to be drifting South.

CMR (Cape Medical Response) was placed on alert and our NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched to the land side.

On arrival on the scene a towline was established to tow the casualty sailing craft away from the rocky shoreline at Seaforth Beach.

The 2 casualties, males, ages one in his twenties and one in his forties, from Observatory, were taken onboard the rescue craft and they were not injured.

We towed their casualty sailing craft to Long Beach, Simonstown, where our NSRI rescue swimmers recovered their sailing craft and no further assistance was required.

Simon McDonnell, NSRI Simons Town station commander, said:

On Sunday, 22 June, at 08h27, NSRI Simons Town crew, at the False Bay Yacht Club marina, witnessed a local sailing vessel appearing to suddenly be sinking rapidly at her berthing.

Our duty crew, at our NSRI Simons Town station 10 rescue base conducting routine training and maintenance at the time, were immediately activated and responded with water pumps and rescue equipment to cut free the mooring lines but the sailing vessel sunk to the seabed rapidly before interventions could be established.

The sailing yacht owner and local marina company are engaged in salvaging the sailing vessel.

It is unknown what caused the sailing vessel to suddenly sink.