NSRI DURBAN RESPONDS TO MULTIPLE CALL-OUTS DURING FESTIVAL FISHING COMPETITION

NSRI Durban Station 5 crews responded to three separate maritime assistance call-outs on Sunday during and after the Durban Ski-Boat Club Festival Fishing Competition.

At approximately 12h20, NSRI assisted a ski-boat carrying six crew members after electrical failure caused the loss of VHF radio communications and affected the vessel’s motors offshore. The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 delivered a replacement battery, restoring full power before escorting the vessel safely back to the ski-boat club.

Later, at 17h00, crews responded to reports of an overdue ski-boat. The skipper was contacted and reported low fuel while returning to shore. NSRI rendezvoused with the vessel offshore, transferred additional fuel onboard, and escorted the craft safely back to the beaching site without incident.

NSRI commended the Durban Ski-Boat Club Festival Fishing Competition safety team for their effective coordination and support throughout the event, during which 289 vessels launched with only these two incidents reported.

At approximately 22h00, NSRI Durban responded to a charter fishing vessel experiencing mechanical failure inside the Port of Durban. A sister vessel had already taken the casualty craft under tow, while NSRI monitored the operation until the vessel was safely berthed at its moorings.

All three operations concluded safely, with no injuries reported.