NSRI Gqeberha – 2 medical evacuation operations off ships at sea:

Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said: At 23h55, Wednesday, 17 September, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted to prepare for a medical evacuation operation from a motor vessel container ship of a 55 year old Indian male seafarer suffering a medical condition.

At 00h22, Thursday, 18 September, the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and a Relay ambulance services rescue paramedic, was launched and rendezvoused with the vessel 8 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Port Elizabeth, in choppy sea conditions, where NSRI MEX crew were transferred onboard the vessel.

The patient, found to be in the good care of the ships medical crew, walking wounded, was secured into a safety harness, safety lines and protective equipment.

He was transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft and in the care of the Relay paramedic he was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base and he was transported to hospital by Relay ambulance in a stable condition for further medical care.

The operation was completed at 03h47.

NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), Relay ambulance services, the Ships agent, 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, and Police Sea Borderline Control, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and coordination of this medical evacuation operation.

Jonathan Tufts, NSRI Gqeberha duty controller, said:

At 13h01, Thursday, 18 September, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted to prepare for an urgent medical evacuation operation from a motor vessel tanker ship of a 25 year old Filipino male seafarer reported to be suffering severe injuries.

The NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian was launched, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and we rendezvoused with the tanker motor vessel 17 nautical miles offshore East of the Port of Port Elizabeth.

Sea conditions, in strong winds and 3 to 4 meter sea swells, were unfavourable to transfer MEX crew onto the vessel.

We escorted the vessel into Algoa Bay where, in slightly calmer sea conditions, using the vessel as a lee against the severe sea conditions, NSRI MEX crew were transferred onto the vessel where the patient, found to be in the good care of the ships medical crew, was secured into a safety harness, safety lines and protective equipment.

He was transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft and he was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base where he was transported to hospital by EC Government Health EMS ambulance in a stable condition for further medical care.

The operation was completed at 21h00.

NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), The ships agent, 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 this medical evacuation operation.