A crew of 15 individuals was rescued off the southern Cape seas of South Africa on Thursday after their offshore supply vessel, the Marshall Island-flagged AM Pride, caught fire and had to be abandoned. The incident occurred about 90 km south of Mossel Bay, prompting the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to coordinate the rescue operation.
The Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town was alerted by the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) about the fire on the vessel, which was reported to be out of control in the ship’s messroom. The MRCC called on nearby vessels, including the Angelic Peace and the Thunderbird, to assist in the rescue efforts.
PetroSA deployed a helicopter to aid in the rescue operation, successfully retrieving the crew members from a life-raft and transporting them to safety. The crew was then taken to the coastal city of George, with plans to fly them to Cape Town. Meanwhile, African Marine Solution’s Mkhuseli emergency towing vessel was dispatched to retrieve the AM Pride and tow it to a designated location agreed upon with the owners, Alphard Maritime.
Overall, the successful rescue operation involved multiple vessels and a helicopter, ensuring the safety of all crew members aboard the AM Pride. The prompt response and coordination between various parties helped prevent further escalation of the situation and ensured the well-being of those involved in the incident.
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