Month: May 2024

National Oil Contingency Plan roadshow heads for KwaZulu-Natal: SAMSA

Pretoria: 31 May 2024

South Africa’s state of readiness for effectively managing marine pollution, but particularly in the event of major oil spills in its oceans waters and adjacent inland waterways comes under focus once more this year, this time in Durban over two days next week, reports the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial leg of the two-day roadshow, on Tuesday and Wednesday (04-05 June 2024), scheduled for the Durban port’s ‘N-Shed’ is the third of its kind in recent months at cities on South Africa’s 3200km coastline, with an estimated 200 people expected to participate from across the public, private and non-governmental institutions.

Among these will be private sector representatives of national and regional marine services providers including African Marine Solutions (Amsol), DRIZIT, SPILLTECH, environmental groups including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and SANCCOB, SAMSA and Transnet, as well as among others, representatives of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and Department of Transport (DoT), which is tasked with ensuring South Africa’s general preparedness for marine pollution prevention.

According to SAMSA: “The Department of Transport (DoT) has a legal responsibility of providing and fulfilling statutory obligations towards marine pollution prevention response of the Republic of South Africa’s coastline of more than 3 000 kilometres in terms of powers provided in the Marine Pollution (Control and Civil Liability) Act 6 of 1981, Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 2 of 1986 and in the Marine Pollution (Intervention) Act 64 of 1987.

“The Marine Pollution (Control and Civil Liability) Act 6 of 1981 states in its preamble the Act aims: “To provide for the protection of the marine environment from pollution by oil and other marine harmful substances, and for that purpose to provide for the prevention and combating of pollution of the sea by oil and other harmful substances; to determine liability in certain respects for loss or damage caused by the discharge of oil from ships, tankers and offshore installations; and to provide for matters connected therewith”.

However, says SAMSA; in ensuring that requirements of the legislation are properly, consistently met and advanced, also assists the country in discharging diligently its international obligations in terms of its memberhip of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) with regards implementation of provisions of related conventions, but specifically the the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

“MARPOL is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes,” says SAMSA of a duty and responsibility precisely assigned it by the State in terms of its legislated mandate, under the DoT.

In Durban next Tuesday and Wednesday, focus of the event led by the IMOrg – a virtual organisation chaired by the DoT and SAMSA as the co-chair and secretariat – will be primarily on the revised National Oil Contingency Plan.

IMorg is South Africa’s preparedness forum for joint Government and industry response to oil spills within South Africa’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.5-million km² across the Atlantic, Southern and Indian Ocean.

Proceedings will comprise two phases, a townhall type presentation encompassing familiarisation of attendees with the approved NOSCP inclusive of the Marine Oil Pollution Prepared Response and Cooperation (OPRC) Bill, a Durban and Richards Bay ports contingency plan, as well as the Wild Oceans – Oil Spill Modelling and Mapping of the Ecologically Vulnerable hotspots model.

The presentations, beginning at 9am each morning, will then be followed by an onfield demonstration of pollution combating and wildlife protection equipment, says SAMSA.

End

Small Sailing Vessel Rescue: Commendable Skipper’s Distress Preparedness

SAMSA file photo (For illustration purposes only)

Pretoria: 27 May 2024

The skipper of a small sailing vessel that went aground at the weekend after it took water following a reported collision with an object at sea near the Wild Coast has been praised for his  alertness and ‘distress preparedness’ which led to the successful evacuation of all four sailors.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA ) Centre for Sea Watch & Response located Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town says the incident occured on Friday evening while the small sailing vessel, named Tipsy; was sailing in the Indian Ocean along the Wild Coast.

“MRCC Cape Town was notified at 19:15 on 24 May 2024 by Telkom Maritime Radio of a MAYDAY call from the sailing vessel (SV) TIPSY while on listening watch.The SV reported to have hit a submerged object, and the craft was sinking fast.

“The skipper reported that the four (4) persons onboard were abandoning to life raft and had activated the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The incident position was reported to be 500 meters east from Rame Head on the Wild Coast.

“Following a MAYDAY Relay broadcasted by Telkom Maritime Radio, as requested by the MRCC, SV ZING had diverted to assist from a position approximately 03 hours from the distress position. NSRI Port Edward had also launched to assist and was approximately 2.5 hours from the distress position.

“MRCC Cape Town was notified during the early hours of 25 May that NSRI Port Edward had recovered all four (4) persons from the life raft and were returning to Port Edward. No injuries were reported.

“It was also reported that the TIPSY did not sink, it ran aground on a sand bank. The necessary Coastal Navigation Warning was issued by the Hydrographer.

“Three (3) of the persons received hypothermia treatment in an ambulance after they arrived at Port Edward.

“MRCC Cape expresses appreciation for the efforts of SV ZING, NRSI EOC and Station 32 (Port Edward), Port Edward EMS, and Telkom Maritime Radio for their contributions to the successful outcome of this SAR response. The distress preparedness of the SV TIPSY Skipper is commendable as are their actions in contributing to their rescue,” said the MRCC Cape Town.

End

Search for 11 missing fishermen called off, incident investigation underway: SAMSA

Pretoria: 19 May 2024

A search and rescue operation for 11 crew members of a sunken fishing trawler in the Atlantic Ocean about 34 nautial miles from the nearest coastal land area has been called off, with an investigation of the incident now underway, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

According to a SAMSA statement on Sunday, the search for the missing crew ensued on Friday afternoon after a distress call was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) based at the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response in Cape Town, and during which a fishing trawler, FV Lepanto, reported to have taken water rapidly and was sinking fast.

SAMSA says at the time of the incident, the FV Lepanto, a 35 meters long and 7.5 meters wide fishing trawler registered in South Africa, had a crew of 20 fishermen onboard, and nine (9) of whom were soon located floating at sea nearby, and evacuated to Cape Town.

Soon after the distress call was received by the MRCC and broadcast back to other vessels at sea in the area, a number of vessels nearest to the casualty vessel, at a location of approximately 35 nautical miles in the Atlantic Ocean west of Slangkop Point in the Western Cape, joined the search and rescue operation.

The search continued through the rest of Friday into Saturday, involving at least four assigned fishing vessels in the vicinity, as well as a fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter dispatched from Cape Town. Late on Saturday, debris thought to be from the stricken and sunken trawler was spotted, however sadly, no sight of the missing crew was made, said SAMSA.

SAMSA said: “Following the sinking of the LEPANTO during the late afternoon of 17 May 2024 approximately 34 nautical miles west from Slangkop Point Light in Cape Town, rescue efforts continued for the 11 missing persons.

“The commendable efforts of the fishing vessels on 17 May, in the vicinity of the incident location, resulted in both a life raft recovered – one containing nine (9) survivors; and the other being empty.

“Unfortunately, even with the large number of vessels on-scene, none of the missing persons were found nor any undone life jackets.

“The MRCC Cape Town assigned search and rescue (SAR) patterns to the available craft, attempting to utilise the remaining daylight as best as possible. Unfortunately, no sighting of any of the 11 missing persons or even a life jacket was reported.

“A probable search area was developed by MRCC Cape Town in preparation for a night time search, and search patterns were assigned to the vessels. The MRCC was able to obtain rotor- and fixed wing resources through Aerios Global Aviation (AGA), with each aircraft were assigned a search pattern aligned with the capabilities provided. Unfortunately, no sightings were reported.

“The search continued in the morning of 18 May with a revised search area developed, and search patterns assigned to the vessels on scene. MRCC also tasked the AGA helicopter, which resulted in debris being spotted within the revised search area. The search continued for the remainder of the daytime without any other sighting reports.

“Those vessels remaining in the search area continued with their assigned search patterns until after sunset. A review of the search progression, the search efforts, and the continuous lack of sighting reports from the incident start, and the favourable weather, led the MRCC to conclude the SAR effort.

“MRCC Cape Town expresses its sincere appreciation of efforts and contributions from: Telkom Maritime Radio, South African Maritime Safety Authority, AGA, NSRI, the media, City of Cape Town, Viking Fishing, Sea Harvest, NSRI Stations 01, 03, 08, as well as the numbers of vessels that partook in the operation, namely FVs Lee-Anne, Locqueran, Haverst Florita, Haverst Umzanzi, Armana, Haverst Saldanha, Isabela Marine, Haverst Georgina, Haverst Cap Nord, African Queen, Umlobi, and Haverst Lindiwe.

“The loss of the 11 persons from the LEPANTO is most regrettable. MRCC Cape Town expresses its sincere condolences to the family members, friends, and colleagues of those lost to the sea.

End.

Fishing vessel sunk, search for 11 missing fishermen underway in South Africa’s west coast: SAMSA

A photo of the South Africa flagged fishing trawler, FV Lepanto that reportedly quickly sank about 34 nautical miles in the Atlantic Ocean west of Slangkop Point on Friday afternoon, with 20 crewmen on board. Nine crewmen were rescued and evacuated while a searh and rescue for the 11 others still missing is currently underway. (Photo: SAMSA)

Pretoria: 18 May 2024

UPDATE 1: (15h40)

Apart from debris found floating at sea by a fishing vessel assisting with a search and rescue operation in the Atlantic Ocean early on Saturday, no sight has yet been made of 11 crew members of the sunken FV Lepanto, reports the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

The South Africa flagged fishing trawler, with 20 crewmen on board, reportedly quickly sunk on Friday afternoon at a location some 34 nautical miles west of Slangkop Point. Nine (9) of the crew members were evacuated shortly thereafter and brought to Cape Town, while a search and rescue ensured to find the 11 others still missing, said SAMSA.

SAMSA said the debris spotted on Saturday, was found by one of three fishing vessels that were called upon to assist with the search and rescue of the missing crew members. SAMSA confirmed that the search had also gone airborne early on Saturday, after an aircraft was secured for the SAR.

“A search and rescue operation is currently underway for the remaining 11 persons in the water. Three vessels are involved in the search. All three vessels; FVs Harvest Lindiwe, Haverst Mzansi, Haverst Cape Nord, are on scene and actively searching. The designated search area has been divided into three sections, with each vessel conducting a parallel search pattern within the assigned section.

“An AGA helicopter is assisting with an aerial search. The estimated search duration is 8-10 hours. Debris has been reported in the northern part of the search grid and the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) Cape Town is investigating this lead,” said SAMSA.

For more on the story, see the section below.

More updates will be made when available.

A frantic search for about 11 fishermen is underway in the Atlantic Ocean after their vessel, a South Africa registered trawler named VF Lepanto, sunk on Friday with 20 crew on board, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reports.

SAMSA says the incident occured while the 35 meters long and 7.5 meters wide vessel was at a location approximately 35 nautical miles west of Slangkop Point in the Western Cape.

A statement by the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response located Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town on Friday night said the incident of the casualty occured on Friday afternoon, prompting a search and rescue operation after a distress call from the vessel was received.

Said the MRCC: ” At 15:34 local time, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town received a distress call notification from regarding the South African-flagged fishing vessel FV Lepanto, reported to be sinking rapidly approximately 34 nautical miles west of Slangkop Point Light.

“The distress call, received by Telkom Maritime Services, prompted an immediate response. Nearby fishing vessels, FV Harvest Mzanzi and FV Armana, responded to the mayday call and proceeded to the scene. FV Armana successfully rescued nine crew members, leaving eleven crew members still unaccounted for.

“The MRCC Cape Town is coordinating the search and rescue (SAR) operation. A MAYDAY broadcast has been issued to request assistance from vessels in the vicinity. Four vessels; the FV Lee-Anne, FV Harvest Saldana, FV Locqueran, and FV Harvest Florita have been alerted and are enroute to assist in the rescue operation.

“The NSRI Emergency Operations Centre has been alerted and is on standby. NSRI Stations 1,3, and 8 responded to the search request

“The MRCC Cape Town and all involved parties are working diligently at searching for the missingcrew. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” said the centre, adding that families of the missing seafarers had already been informed of the incident.

END

UPDATE: Search in Indian Ocean for seafarer fallen overboard called off: SAMSA

Image of the Chinese bulk carrier, M/V Rui Ming involved in a search for one of its crew members believed to have fell overboard in the Indian Ocean in the early hours of Friday. (Photo supplied)

Pretoria: 10 May 2024

UPDATE: 21h00

The search for a seafarer reported to have gone overboard a Chinese bulk carrier some 345 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean, south east of Durban, South Africa; has been called off, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) Cape Town confirmed late on Friday.

This was after a few vessels joined the Chinese bulk carrier, the M/V Rui Ming from which the seafarer reportedly gone overboard was a crew member, assisted with the search to no avail, said the MRCC Cape Town.

Late afternoon on Friday, the MRCC said: “MRCC Cape Town had released all the other vessels, except the MAERSK TAIKUNG, to continue with normal sailing operations after sunset in the search area at approximately 16:30.

“A revised track search plan was provided to the MAERSK TAIKUNG and it was completed by approximately 20:00. Unfortunately, the crewman that had gone overboard was not found.

“MRCC Cape Town released the MAERSK TAIKUNG to continue with normal sailing operations. Our thanks to the vessels that had responded to assist, and to Telkom Maritime Radio for their communication assistance.

” The SAR case is closed.’

End

A search is currently underway in the Indian Ocean for a seafarer reportedly gone overboard at a location approximately 345 nautical miles south east of the city of Durban, South Africa, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has reported.

In a report, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) based at the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response) in Cape Town said the incident came to light early morning on Friday after the interception of a distress call from a Chinese bulk carrier, the M/V Rui Ming; requesting assistance with a search for one of its crew members believed to have gone overboard.

“The South African Search and Rescue Organization’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre based in Cape Town (MRCC Cape Town) was notified by Telkom Maritime Radio around 06:00 on 10 May 2024 of a Man Overboard (MOB) reported by the Bulk Carrier RUI NING 21.

“It was established that the person was last seen up to 04 hours before the MOB was reported and it could not be confirmed that he was wearing a life jacket.

“The search area was defined as the track between the position of where the MOB was reported, approximately 665km east-south-east from Durban, and the estimated position of where the person was last seen given that the person could have gone overboard anywhere along that track.

“A request for vessel to divert and assist in the search for the person in water (PIW) was issued by Telkom Maritime Radio as requested by MRCC Cape Town. The motor vessels (MV) MAERSK TAIKUNG and CMA CGM GALAPGOS were requested to divert to search area. The car carrier RORO BESS, in response to the MAYDAY Relay, notified the MRCC that it had diverted to the search and was ready to assist.

“MRCC Cape Town assigned track-line search patterns to each of the four (4) vessels. The weather is forecasted to be wind Northerly up to 24km/h and sea swell of up to 2.5m.

“At present, no sighting of the PIW was reported, and the MRCC is investigating alternate search efforts,” said the MRCC Cape Town.

End.

It’s all systems go for bunkering services in South Africa: SAMSA

Pretoria: 05 May 2024

Ships bunker services provision in South Africa – inclusive of off-shore operations – is well on track, with applications, approvals and issuance of licenses currently being managed expeditiously, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has confirmed.

However, according to SAMSA’s Acting CEO, Mr Tau Morwe, operators have to ensure that they are compliant with requirements of SAMSA as well as both the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

Mr Morwe made the confirmation on the status quo of bunkering services in South Africa during a day long maritime sector bunkering services roundtable meeting attended by about 80 people in Durban on Tuesday. (30 April 2024).

Representatives included industry principals, primarily ship owners and agents and some of whom are active bunkering services providers, state officials from Treasury, SARS, the Department of Transport, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, TNPA, Ports Regulator South Africa and SAMSA; ship-to-ship services providers and interested or affected parties – among them, environmental groups – as well as delegates from Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia.

Mr Morwe’s remarks came in the wake of an apparent entrenching confusion or misunderstanding in the country’s maritime sector about the real state of bunkering services provision and administration, this coming in the wake of a clampdown by SARS on certain operators related to taxation issues during the latter part of 2023, as well as a ‘moratorium’ said to have been placed on the issuing of licences.

Flanked by Mr Mahesh Fakir, the chairperson of SAMSA’s Board of Directors, in his closing remarks of the gathering, Mr Morwe stated: “Where SAMSA stands is that applications for off shore bunkering, in terms of Section 21 (1) b (Prevention and Combating of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Act. 1981) is in process. Anyone can make the application.

“The TNPA and SAMSA are agreed on the continued processing of applications. However, in the processing of the applications, we remind applicants that we are not the only regulator, and they (applicants), have to tick the TNPA box, ensure that they are compliant with SARS. If that is in place, there is nothing preventing applicants or operators from conducting business. That is the state of affairs.”

“… there is nothing that says the business (of bunkering) is closed. I repeat, anyone wanting to apply for an operator license may do so. Tick the SARS box, tick the TNPA box!” said Mr Morwe.

For his full remarks, click on the video below.

Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting CEO making his closing remarks at the SAMSA organised Maritime Sector Bunkering Services Round Table Event held in Durban on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 .

Meanwhile, for a complete coverage of the SAMSA organised Maritime Sector Bunkering Services Round Table event in Durban on Tuesday last week, this blog captured as best it could the meetings’ proceedings as presented below. The only record unavailable, due in part to technology limitations, is that of regulators from Mauritius, Namibia and Mozambique who all were planned to make a virtual appearance online.

Key take-aways:

  • Bunkering along with related ship-to-ship transfers services have a long history in South Africa and remain a major business and economic opportunity for sustained expoitation, given the country’s almost perfect geolocation at the foot of the African continent, with an ocean space global shipping corridor that is equidistant between western and eastern countries.
  • With expansion of particularly bunkering services to off shore, notably in Algoa Bay since 2016, the regulatory domain has lagged behind for clarity, leading to disruption and confusion as evidenced by a 2023 SARS clampdown on some operators in Algoa Bay due to taxation related matters
  • The haitus has led to vast loss of business opportunity and income in the past few years especially since the break-out of strife and wars affecting major shipping lines in the Middle East and eastern Europe and which led to an increase in shipping traffic sailing along the Cape of Good Hope ocean corridor.
  • SARS related regulations are in the process of being finalised and should soon be operational.
  • Going forward, SAMSA, the TNPA and SARS are the key (but not exclusive) state institutions whose regulations operators – current or aspirant – must comply with.
  • Overall, there is an agreed need both by the relevant state institutions (SAMSA, TNPA, SARS, Ports Regulator, DFFE) and the private sector for closer cooperation and collaboration between the regulatory institutions, as well as about ongoing engagement and interaction with all stakeholders and interested parties in the maritime sector.
  • A commitment is reached that established forums in the bunkering subsector as well as periodic maritime sector and regulators roundtable meetings shall continue into the future.

In the package below, in the order of their appearance and presentations, first up are Welcoming and Opening Remarks by Mr Morwe and Mr Fakir respectively, in which they broadly outline the standpoint of SAMSA on the state of bunkering administration in South Africa.

Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting CEO making his welcoming remarks.
Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA Board chairperson making his opening remarks.

Next are representatives of the Ports Regulator, TNPA and SAMSA on the status quo of bunkering services.

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) presentation
Ports Regulator SA presentation
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) presentation

Following are representatives of the Treasury, SARS and the DFFE on “Government on bunkering risk, opportunities and enablement.”

Treasury Department presentation
South African Revenue Service (SARS) presentation
Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Environment presentation
Question & Answers Session 1

Finally, below – in no particular order – are representatives of industry (including the South African Association of Ship Owners and Agents (SAASOA), on their own individual and group perspectives, afterwhich a final Question and Answer Session ensues.

Mr Dan Ngakane, CEO of Amsol.
Mr Peter Besnard, CEO of SAASOA
Mr Kurt Theunis: Linsen-Nambi Bunkering Services
Mr Stuart Klapprott: MOL Chemical Carriers
Ms Nomkhitha Mbele: James Fisher Fender Care
Question & Answers Session 2

End.

Search for yet another fishing vessel crew member called off near Mossel Bay; condolences extended to Namibian family: SAMSA

Pretoria: 02 May 2024

The Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Cape Town based Centre for Sea Watch & Response (CSW&R) has extended its condolences to the Namibian family of a fisherman who reportedly went overboard a fishing vessel and presumed dead in South African sea waters on Monday this week.

The sorrowful statement by MRCC Cape Town came with confirmation on Wednesday that a day and night search for the seafarer had been abandoned, with little or no hope of his recovery.

According to the MRCC Cape Town, this was a tragic end to yet another incident in this south-western ocean region of South Africa where, in a space of two weeks, yet another fisher disappeared into the ocean after reportedly falling overboard a fishing vessel.

In an earlier incident on or about 19 April 2024, a skipper of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB)was confirmed to have passed away after the watercraft in which he was sailing along with two (2) others, reportedly capsized after it was hit by a huge wave at sea in a location of approximately 1.5 nautical miles south of Oliphantsbospunt in the Western Cape.

Shortly after that incident, on 26 April 2024, another fishing vessel, named FV Oceana Amethyst, with 22 crew members onboard, also reportedly experienced problems while out at sea in a location of approximately 20 nautical miles west north- west of Slangkoppunt also in the Western Cape. such that it sank almost immediately due to water intake that reportedly started sipping through its engine room. Fortunately, during that incident, all 22 crew members were rescued on time.

Regarding the latest incident involving the Namibian fisherman, the MRCC said on Tuesday that the casualty occurred on Sunday, 28 April 2024 and shortly after which efforts also involving other nearby vessles, were made to assist the crew of the FV SEAWIN DIAMOND, while out at sea in an ocean location of approximately 142 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay.

“MRCC Cape Town was notified at 22:41 on 28 April by Telkom Maritime Radio of a Man Overboard (MOB) reported by the FV SEAWIN DIAMOND. The vessels position was reported to be approximately 142 NM South from Mossel Bay,” said the MRCC on Wednesday.

It said: “Whilst the vessel was busy setting fishing gear, the captain was alerted by the crew of the MOB incident and a MOB Marker buoy was deployed.

“The Namibian citizen was last seen wearing oil skin and boots but not a life jacket. The casualty vessel tracked the marker buoy in an effort to find the person in water (PIW). An observation of something green, presumed to be an oil skin, was seen disappearing under water but it could not be confirmed to be the PIW.

“A MAYDAY Relay was issued by MRCC Cape Town through Telkom Maritime Radio wherein vessels were requested to divert and render assistance in search of the PIW. The FV BLUEBELL was requested to divert to the reported incident from a position 67NM to the West.

“MRCC Cape Town developed a search area, based on the environmental factors and the time it would take the BLUEBELL to arrive at the incident location, and assigned a relevant search pattern.

“The Search Action Plan was communicated to the BLUEBELL, and it conducted a search along the drift track of the MOB buoy while proceeding to the assigned commence search point. MRCC Cape Town was notified by sunset on 29 April that the BLUEBELL and the SEAWIN DIAMOND had completed their search assignments, with MRCC Cape Town issuing revised search instructions to both vessels in preparation for a nighttime search.

“The nighttime search efforts had to be abandoned due to the lack of night search capabilities of both fishing vessels. MRCC Cape Town requested the frequency of the MAYDAY Relay broadcasted by Telkom Maritime Radio to be increased in the hope that additional resources shall respond.

“With no response to the MAYDAY Relay by 06:00 on 30 April 2024, the distress message was downscaled to an urgency message notifying vessels of the probable search area wherein sightings relating to the missing crewman could be made.

“Unfortunately, by 18:00 on 30 April 2024, with no additional information or sighting reports, all SAR efforts were cancelled with the missing person presumed drowned,” reported the MRCC Cape Town.

The centre added: “MRCC Cape Town expresses condolences to the family and friends of the missing crew member.”

End