NSRI Durban attended to two Medical Evacuation Operations.
On Thursday Afternoon, 5 November, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to a maritime medical evacuation operation of a 39 year old Chinese male seafarer, with a medical complaint, from a 66 meter fishing vessel approaching towards Durban from deep sea
On Friday at 17h30 NSRI Durban duty crew and Faith Med ambulance services attended at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base where we launched the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and Faith Med rescue paramedics.
NSRI – STATION 5, Durban
NSRI – Durban – Monday, 9 November. 2 Maritime Medical Evacuation Operations:
Etienne van Zyl, NSRI Durban station commander, said:
NSRI Durban attended to 2 medical evacuation operations.
On Thursday Afternoon, 5 November, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to a maritime medical evacuation operation of a 39 year old Chinese male seafarer, with a medical complaint, from a 66 meter fishing vessel approaching towards Durban from deep sea
On Friday at 17h30 NSRI Durban duty crew and Faith Med ambulance services attended at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base where we launched the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and Faith Med rescue paramedics.
We rendezvoused with the fishing vessel 4 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban where an NSRI MEX crewmen and a Faith Med rescue paramedic were transferred onto the vessel, finding the patient to be in a serious but stable condition.
In a technical operation our NSRI MEX crew established a technical high angle rope and rescue basket system and transferred the casualty onto our rescue craft, followed by the rescue crew.
In the care of the paramedics the patient was brought to our NSRI rescue base and he was transported to hospital by Faith Med ambulance in a stable condition.
The successful operation was completed at 19h00.
On Saturday morning, 6 November, at 02h40, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by shipping agents to a maritime medical evacuation operation of a 29 year old Vietnamese male seafarer, with a medical complaint, from a 260 meter container motor vessel approaching towards Durban.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) were alerted.
At 11h00 on Sunday, 8 November, NSRI Durban duty crew and Faith Med ambulance services attended at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base, during a level 5 SAWS weather warnings for heavy rain, where we launched the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and Faith Med rescue paramedics.
In heavy rainfall we rendezvoused with the motor vessel 4 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban where an NSRI MEX crewman and a Faith Med rescue paramedic were transferred onto the vessel, finding the patient to be in a stable condition in the care of the ships medical crew.
The patient, secured into a safety line, personal protective gear and a harness, was assisted down the pilots ladder and transferred onto our rescue craft, followed by the rescue crew.
In the care of the paramedics the patient was brought to our NSRI rescue base and he was transported to hospital by Faith Med ambulance in a stable condition.
The successful operation was completed at 12h30.
In both operations communications were assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.
The cooperation, care and assistance of the ships crews, in both operations, is commended.
In both operations, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Durban duty controllers, Faith Med ambulance services control, ShipMed medical services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA Port Health, the SA Police Service Police Sea Borderline Control, and the shipping agents, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of these successful maritime medical evacuation operations.
