[imagesource:nsri]

Just after midnight on Friday, a 35-metre support vessel, based in Hout Bay, had caught ablaze south of Cape Point.

Luckily, the cargo vessel Aquaexplorer and fishing vessel Umfondini were out and about at the time and able to come to the rescue, along with a string of other rescue organisations.

Thanks to the combined effort of everyone involved, 26 casualties were safely rescued from the burning boat.

Simon McDonnell, The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Simon’s Town station commander, noted that they were alerted at 00:40AM on Friday morning, per SA People.

Image: NSRI

All shipping traffic in the area was alerted to divert in order to assist if possible, while three NSRI rescue vessels were dispatched from Hout Bay and Simon’s Bay:

The Transnet National Ports Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, NSRI Simon’s Town, Hout Bay duty controllers and the NSRI’s EOC all worked together to coordinate the rescue operation.

Once the rescue personnel were on the scene, the crew onboard the burning boat quickly abandoned the vessel, as they jumped into a liferaft and were then taken to safety on shore by Umfondini:

“They were brought to the shelter of Buffels Bay where they were transferred onto the NSRI Simon’s Town rescue craft Donna Nicholas and brought to NSRI Simon’s Town,” said McDonnell. “They were then transported by road to their home base in Hout Bay.”

Luckily, none of the 26 fishermen on board were injured.

As for the carcass of the boat? It was still smouldering and was drifting in a northwesterly direction, at risk of running aground near Scarborough, south of Kommetjie, noted NSRI.

Image: NSRI

A tow ship called the Strandloper was dispatched to go fetch the burned hull and bring it back that evening, along with the NSRI Hout Bay rescue craft Nadine Gordimer and the NSRI Kommetjie rescue craft Spirit of the Vines:

On arrival on the scene the estimated 80 ton casualty vessel, still smouldering, was found drifting towards shore but appeared to be at no risk of sinking.

…NSRI were able to use sea currents to gently tow the vessel away from land and hold her off-shore until the tug boat Strandloper arrived on the scene – averting an environmental maritime disaster.

After some negotiating, Strandloper eventually towed the casualty vessel and moored her on a Hout Bay Harbour pier where she was doused and treated.

SAMSA, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and a salvage company have secured barriers around the vessel to prevent any pollution spill. There doesn’t appear to be any oil or diesel leakage, spills or outfall.

[sources:sapeople&nsri]