Tag: ELLEN KHUZWAYO

Group of people lost at sea for two days off Cape Point, found: SAMSA

Pretoria: 26 March 2024

A sea search for a group of six (6) people reportedly lost at sea since Saturday was concluded after they were successfully rescued on Monday evening, the South African Maritime Safety Authority announced on Tuesday.

According to the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at SAMSA’s Cape Town based Centre for Sea Watch & Response, the survivors were found and rescued during a search operation involving Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) vessels, the research vessel ELLEN KHUZWAYO and in-shore patrol vessel  RUTH FIRST, late on Monday.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Simonstown assisted with the transfer of the survivors and their craft from the rescue vessel, the Ellen Khuzwayo, and they were taken to the SAN Simons Town Naval Base on Tuesday. 

According to the MRCC Cape Town, the group had gone missing after their rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) ran out fuel and were left drifting at sea in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday at approximately 100km west off Cape Point.

Search and Rescue efforts continued from Sunday afternoon, when the MRCC was notified of the overdue craft, until the successful outcome on Monday. The DDFE vessels RUTH FIRST and ELLEN KHUZWAYO were provided with Search Patterns to cover the Search Area of approximately 6,296.8 km2.

“In an extensive search and rescue operation involving multiple resources, since Sunday reaching in excess of 80 nautical miles south-east of Cape Point, the research vessel, ELLEN KHUZWAYO; located and recovered the six (6) missing fishermen deep sea off Cape Point.

“They are reportedly all in good health and not injured. NSRI Simonstown rescue craft was  launched around 10h00 today (local time) and escort them on their last leg to Simonstown naval base.

“The support and efforts of the maritime community as well as the extensive search carried out by DFFE l vessels Ellen Khuzwayo and Ruth First who extensively searched a plotted search grid taking sea drift, wind speeds and direction into account, by MRCC SAR Coordinator and Duty Team, is commended in the successful rescue operation.”

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Search fully underway in the Atlantic Ocean for a group of six people reportedly missing at sea: SAMSA

Fisheries vessel, Ruth First; among several in the Atlantic Ocean in an all out search since Monday, for group of six people reportedly missing at sea on Sunday about 100km west of Cape Town (File Photo)

Pretoria: 25 March 2024

An all out search for a group of about six (6) people believed to be missing at sea about 100km west of Cape Town in the Atlantic Ocean after their Rhib ran out of fuel, is currently underway, with at least two vessels Fisheries vessels deployed on Monday afternoon to assist, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed.

In a statement, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC), based at SAMSA Centre for Seawatch and Response, reports that on Sunday around noon it was notified of an overdue eight (8) meter RHIB, light gray in color, with six (6) persons onboard.

“The craft had reportedly run out of fuel and provided a Last Known Position (LKP) of approximately 100km south-west from Cape Point light as reported late Saturday afternoon.

“Telkom Maritime Radio was requested by MRCC Cape Town to issue a MAYDAY Relay wherein vessels were requested to report sightings of the overdue craft. Unfortunately, due to the distance of the estimated Search Area from shore, MRCC Cape Town could not task resources, and relied on vessel of opportunity as identified on the SAMSA Automated Identification System (AIS).

“The MT HYUNDAI PRINCE  and the FV ALLISON were requested to divert to the LKP. Unfortunately nothing was found. MRCC Cape Town suspended search efforts due to nightfall.

“Search and Rescue efforts continued from early this (Monday) morning. An updated Search Area of approximately 6,296.8 kmsq was developed, and the Fisheries Patrol vessel RUTH FIRST and ELLEN KHUZWAYO were requested to assist. Both vessels shall commence search by late this afternoon.

“The MAYDAY Relay has been updated with the current estimated search area, requesting vessels to assist in finding the overdue craft, and for responding vessels to report to the On-scene Coordinator vessel  RUTH FIRST,” said the MRCC Cape Town.

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