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.

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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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South Africa’s Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) helps save seafarers from sunken vessel, miles into the Atlantic Ocean: SAMSA

Pretoria: 15 March 2024

Prompt action by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Centre for Sea Watch & Response to a vessel distress call thousands of kilometres into the Atlantic Ocean this week has successfully led to the rescue of two seafarers, now on their way to Cape Town, the agency reported on Friday.

Sadly, a third seafarer believed to be an elderly German national, could not be saved as he was reported to have sunk along with the vessel, said SAMSA. The two other seafarers, a Brazilian and a Swiss/USA citizen, are now currently on their way to Cape Town.

According to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) based at the Centre for Sea Watch & Rescue in Cape Town Friday, the drama filled rescue operation of the seafarers ensued on Wednesday after the unit was called upon and notified shortly after 12 midnight by the Garmin International Rescue Coordination Centre (IERCC) of an SOS Alert that had been received.

“The IERCC relayed that the Swiss flagged sailing vessel NINA POPE was reported to be taking on water in a position approximately 2,400km West-south-west from Cape Town. Shortly after the report from the IERCC, a Cospas-Sarsat Emergency Position Radio Beacon (EPIRB) activation was received through the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

“The EPIRB was confirmed to be associated with the NINA POPE, which was en-route from Tristan da Cunha towards Cape Town as learned later.

“Due to the incident position being close to the Search and Rescue Region border of Uruguay and South Africa, it was agreed that MRCC Cape Town shall assume Search and Rescue (SAR) coordination. MRCC Uruguay continued to assist MRCC Cape Town with supplementary SAR related information.

“Telkom Maritime Radio was requested by MRCC Cape Town to communicate the distress of the three (3) persons onboard the NINA POPE to vessel around the incident location through a MAYDAY Relay.

“MRCC Cape Town had also identified several vessels that might be appropriate responding craft using SAMSA’s Automatic Identification System (AIS). The Motor Tanker vessel FRONT POLLUX, one of the vessels identified on AIS, responded to the MAYDAY Relay and diverted to investigate the distress notification on the request of MRCC Cape Town.

“Thanks to the continuous position updates received from both the Garmin device and the EPIRB, MRCC Cape Town was able to direct the FRONT POLLUX to the distress position through the communication assistance of Telkom Maritime Radio.

“By 3pm, the FRONT POLLUX reported to have sighted a life raft in the vicinity of the distress position and proceeded to recover the survivors in winds of up to 74 km/h and Sea swell of up to 08m.

“The FRONT POLLUX notified MRCC Cape Town that only two survivors (Male) were recovered from the life raft and that the third, the Skipper (Male), had not survived and went under with the NINA POPE when it sank,” said MRCC.

MRCC reported that it subsequently cancelled the MAYDAY Relay and the FRONT POLLUX relayed that the survivors did not require medical assistance.

“One survivor had dual Swiss/USA citizenship and the other is Brazilian, both had communicated with their respective Embassies in Cape Town as facilitated by the FRONT POLLUX. The deceased was a German citizen.

“The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been requested to assist with the landing of the survivors off Cape Town early next week,” said the MRCC

End.