NATIONAL NEWS - Twenty-one fishermen onboard a fishing trawler that caught fire off the Gqeberha coastline have been rescued following a dramatic emergency response involving the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), local fishing vessels and emergency services.
The Witness reports that the fire broke out aboard the fishing vessel Silver Dorado approximately one nautical mile offshore of Noordhoek yesterday afternoon.
NSRI Gqeberha station commander Mark Dawson says the alarm was raised shortly before 18:00.
“At 17:52 on Monday, January 12, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following a public member eyewitness reporting a fishing vessel ablaze approximately one nautical mile offshore of Noordhoek,” says Dawson.
Almost simultaneously, a mayday distress call was intercepted on marine VHF channel 16, with the skipper reporting a fire onboard and that all 21 crew members were preparing to abandon ship.
According to Dawson, the fire spread rapidly after being discovered.
“It appears that a fire from undetermined causes spread fast after being discovered onboard by the skipper. We believe all remaining 20 crew were in bunks resting in preparation for reaching fishing grounds,” he says.
The skipper managed to alert the crew and transmit a mayday call before the vessel was engulfed in flames, forcing all 21 fishermen to abandon ship and enter the water without time to launch the vessel’s life raft.
Local fishing vessels were the first to reach the scene. The fishing vessel Legugu launched its own life raft and recovered 12 fishermen from the sea, while Raka rescued four, Maverick another four and Vulcan one crew member.
“All 21 crew were rescued by the local fishing vessels that had gone to her assistance. All crew members were reported to be accounted for and safe,” says Dawson.
Some of the fishermen were rescued from the Silver Dorado fishing vessel. Photos: NSRI Website
NSRI rescue craft later transferred the fishermen to the NSRI rescue base at the Port of Port Elizabeth, where they were medically assessed by EMS paramedics.
“All casualty crew were confirmed to be not injured and requiring no medical care,” Dawson says.
The burning vessel drifted towards Cape Recife and remained ablaze overnight. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has confirmed that the vessel’s owners have appointed a salvage and spill response company, although access was hampered by darkness and the nearby reef.
The cause of the fire will be investigated by SAMSA and the police. Authorities have issued an all-ships alert warning of a navigational hazard in the area.
Dawson praised the swift response by bystanders, emergency services and local fishing crews, saying their actions were critical in saving all 21 lives.
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