[imagesource:gencraft/ai]

11 fishermen are still missing after the catastrophic sinking of their trawler on Friday afternoon.

Fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter are still scanning the ocean at least 30 nautical miles (or around 60 kilometres) off the coast of Hout Bay for the missing people. Meanwhile, Sea Harvest, the company that owns the sunk fishing trawler FV Lepanto, told News24 it is devastated by the incident.

A mayday call was intercepted on Friday afternoon, pushing rescue crafts and other fishing vessels on the Atlantic Seaboard to respond, according to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

Five fishing boats reached the scene first, able to rescue nine of the 20 local fishermen from one of the sunken trawler’s life rafts, per The Citizen.

Sea Harvest Group’s chief operating officer, Konrad Geldenhuys, said they were currently in meetings with the families of the 11 missing fishermen, confirming that the nine other lucky lives were brought to the shore on rafts unharmed.

“The crew were all South Africans, living in different parts of Cape Town,” said Geldenhuys, adding that there were 20 crew members on board the vessel.

Three NSRI rescue vehicles joined fishing vessels in an extensive search operation for the remaining 11 missing fishermen in three- to four-metre swells and 10 to 15-knot winds.

Both of the fishing trawler’s life rafts have since been recovered, but “despite an extensive air and sea search, there remain no signs of 11 missing fishermen,” the NSRI said on Saturday.

“Thoughts and care are with the fishermen’s families and the fishing company in this difficult time.”

Geldenhuys confirmed that the company would be working closely with the relevant authorities, primarily the South African Maritime Safety Authority [Samsa], to establish the cause of the accident as soon as possible.

“Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the missing men. We have been in ongoing contact with the affected families and have offered counselling and other support to them and our rescued crewmen during this painful and sad time.”

The NSRI mentioned that Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with marine VHF radio communications and an all-ship alert continues to be broadcast requesting vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout.

The search continues.

This marks the second major human catastrophe to happen this month in the Western Cape, aside from the collapse of an apartment building under construction in George on May 6 that claimed 33 lives.

[sources:citizen&news24]