A routine sunset cruise off Green Point developed into a rescue operation on Saturday evening when a local commercial charter vessel reported taking on water with 37 people onboard. Multiple NSRI stations, volunteer crews, commercial vessels, and port authorities responded to assist, ensuring all passengers and crew were brought safely to shore without injury
NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NSRI – STATION 3, Table Bay. STATION 18, Melkbosstrand. STATION 1, VSC (Volunteer Support Centre) training department.
NSRI – Table Bay – Monday, 26 October. A commercial charter vessel assisted:
Davide Del Fante, NSRI Table Bay coxswain, said:
At 18h59, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a local commercial charter vessel, on a sunset cruise, reporting to be taking on water, offshore of Green Point, with 37 passengers, including 7 crew.
Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Table Bay station 3 rescue base while shore controllers responded to get visuals from the shore side.
NSRI Melkbosstrand were placed on alert.
NSRI VSC (Volunteer Support Centre) training department, conducting routine training, dispatched the NSRI rescue craft Colorpress Rescuer.
NSRI Table Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer.
At least 6 local fellow commercial charter boats, in the area at the time, were on hand at the casualty vessel ready to assist if required.
TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Table Bay Port Control put tug vessels on alert to assist if necessary.
On NSRI rescue craft arriving on the scene we found the casualty vessel underway, under her own power, and NSRI rescue craft escorted the vessel to her moorings at the V&A marina in the Port of Table Bay.
Once the casualty vessel was safely moored all passengers disembarked safely without incident and they required no assistance.
NSRI crew joined the casualty vessel crew onboard where 2 NSRI water extrication pumps were deployed and water ingress, in the engine room, was extracted.
After all water was extricated the water inflow was stemmed and no further assistance was required.
The operation was completed at 20h00.
-ENDS-