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.
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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.
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