South Africa coordinates the rescue of 26 crew members from a burning fishing boat

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reports that 26 crew members were rescued and brought ashore after their fishing vessel caught fire south of the Cape of Good Hope near Cape Town overnight. They describe the rescue as “a frantic effort involving no fewer than three vessels that had responded to a distress call.”

At 0100 local time, MRCC Cape Town received a radio call from the crew of the fishing vessel Olivia Marie reporting that their 105 foot vessel was on fire. According to its AIS data, the South African-registered ship left Hout Bay south of Cape Town on April 5.

The MRCC reports that the crew said they would abandon ship after the fire started in the engine room and that the “whole ship” was now ablaze. The fire is said to have spread quickly. Despite strong winds and high seas, the crew boarded a small life raft and urgently asked for help.

Several vessels were in the area and the MRCC coordinated with them to organize the rescue. A Liberian-registered bulk carrier, AquaExplore (179,000 dwt), was en route to St. Helena Bay Anchorage and was diverted. She was the first on the scene, but SAMSA reports that the ship was unable to recover the fishing boat crew from the raft. However, the bulker stayed on site.

Next arrived a smaller fishing boat, the 62-foot Umfondini, also registered in South Africa and operating from neighboring Gordons Bay. The ship was able to rescue the crew members from their raft. It left the raft and the burning fishing boat with the crew making their way to shore.

“All crew were safely transferred to the Umfondini with prevailing winds reported to be from the south-west at 15 knots with water up to 2.6 meters (approximately 8.5 feet). The AquaExplore continued on her normal voyage,” reported SAMSA that the bulk carrier arrived at its destination later in the day.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), a volunteer rescue organization, also deployed a boat to help with the effort. The lifeboat was able to meet the crew of the burning ship with the fishing trawler. They transferred the crew to the NSRI Simon’s Town ship. The lifeboat took the crew back to their station and arranged for their transport back to Hout Bay.

SAMSA is also issuing a navigational alert, urging vessels in the area to both exercise caution and report any sightings of the drifting fishing boat and its life raft. A third fishing boat, Langenberg, discovered the wreck of the Olivia Marie drifting about 3.5 nautical miles from its original position, with force 5 winds pushing the wreck into shallow waters. SAMSA also warns that some debris was discovered in the water along with the floating liferaft.

They request assistance in salvaging the Olivia Marie and her lifting raft. Efforts to salvage the abandoned ship continue.

Source: News Network