The MV Serenity Diva one of whose crew members reportedly fell overboard on the Indian Ocean south east of Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape province. The search for the seafarer is currently underway, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). (Photo: Supplied)
Pretoria: 19 August 2024
A search is currently underway for a seafarer who reportedly fell overboard a Liberian flagged cargo vessel, the MV Serenity Diva, 44 miles south of Cape Recife in the Eastern Cape on Monday, reports the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
In a brief statement, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) located in the Cape Town based SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response, said that the incident was raised by the vessel’s crew at about 3am (local time) through a distress call logged by Telkom Maritime.
“According to Telkom Maritime Radio, the vessel’s captain was not sure when the crewman went missing except that the crewman was last seen with blue overalls on. It was not clear if he also had a life-jacket on,” said the MRCC Cape Town.
In response, the MRCC identified two vessels, the MV Cedrice Oldendorff and MV Hoanh Son to assist in the search. A request to Telkom Maritime Radio was also made to broadcast a MayDay relay.
Further updates on the incident will released as and when available, said SAMSA.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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
A search for a foreign seafarer who reportedly fell overboard a container vessel in the Indian Ocean, about 22 nautical miles southeast of Cape Recife near the city of Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape province at the weekend, has been called off after a thorough situation appraisal; the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed on Monday.
The seafarer, reportedly a male in his 30s, was not found, said SAMSA, adding that at the time of his disappearance overboard a Denmark flagged container ship, MV Santa Cruz, he was reportedly not wearing a life jacket.
The search for the seafarer, according to SAMSA ensued on Saturday evening shortly after a distress call was received from the vessel, reporting about the incident, and requesting assistance through both the Telkom Maritime Radio and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre based in Cape Town.
At the time of incident on Saturday evening, the vessel was sailing at approximately 22 nautical miles east of Cape Recife, near Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape province.
“At 18h42 (local time) on Saturday, Telkom Maritime Radio informed the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) that M/V Santa Cruz reported that she had a man overboard.
“MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio has since issued a call to vessels in the vicinity, the closest of which was a fishing vessel, FV Portunity, to assist with the search while more search and rescue resources were currently being mobilised, inclusive of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI),” said SAMSA.
Overnight, the containership which was enroute from Durban to Cape Town continued the search and was later joined by as many as six (6) other vessels, as well as by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in (Gqeberha), however sadly, all to no avail, confirmed SAMSA.
The vessel is bound for Cape Town and the local SAMSA office will board the vessel for further investigation.
The Denmark flagged container ship, M/V Santa Cruz, from which a seafarer reportedly fell overboard on the Indian Ocean along the Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Saturday, 02 March 2024. (Pic: Supplied)
Pretoria: 03 March 2024
A sea search is underway in South African waters after a foreign seafarer reportedly disappeared from his vessel and believed to have fallen overboard on Saturday evening, while it was sailing on the Indian Ocean, along the Eastern Cape coastline; the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) announced on Sunday.
UPDATE ONE: Sunday, 03 March 2024 13h00 (LOCAL TIME)
No less than six (6) vessels have since joined the search of the seafarer on Sunday morning on the Indian Ocean along the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, while a warning has also been issued to other passing vessels to keep clear of the search area, reported SAMSA.
According to SAMSA on Sunday morning, the ‘man overboard’ (MOB) report by a Denmark flagged container ship, indicated that the incident occurred while the vessel was sailing at approximately 22 nautical miles east of Cape Recife, near Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape province.
“At 18h42 (local time) on Saturday, Telkom Maritime Radio informed the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) that M/V Santa Cruz reported that she had a man overboard.
“MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio has since issued a call to vessels in the vicinity, the closest of which was a fishing vessel, FV Portunity, to assist with the search while more search and rescue resources are currently being mobilised, inclusive of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI),” said SAMSA.
The search for the seafarer is still underway in an area on the Indian Ocean near Cape Recife, equivalent some seven (7) nautical miles, said SAMSA.
All 16 crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel that sank in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday were successfully rescued overnight (South African time), with none reported to have suffered an injury, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported on Wednesday.
According to the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch and Response based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town, the successful rescue of the crew occured at approximately 02h30 on Wednesday, with assistance of several vessels that responded to distress and assistance request calls broadcast on Tuesday.
The rescue mission got underway on Tuesday after the Taiwanese fishing vessel DER HAE NO 66 crew sent out a MAYDAY call reporting that the vessel was taking in water to a point that it had to abandon it, in an area at sea some 598 kilometers off the coast of Durban in the Indian Ocean.
According to the MRCC, several ships in the vicinity were immediately called upon to render assistance, and they did so successfully.
The Centre for Sea Watch & Response reported on Wednesday morning: “MRCC Cape Town is glad to report that all of the 16 crew from the fishing vessel (FV) DER HAE NO 66 were rescued.
“The bulk carrier GOLDEN EARL arrived at the scene where the DER HAE NO 66 sank after being abandoned by the Taiwanese and Filipino crew. Unfortunately, the GOLDEN EARL could not recover the survivors from the life raft due to the prevailing swell of 4.0 meters.
“MRCC Cape Town then requested the GOLDEN EARL to remain on-scene, and with the drifting life raft until the fishing vessels JAIN LIH NO 212 and DER HAE NO 6 arrives.
“MRCC released the other vessels, liquid natural gass carrier LOBITA and crude oil tanker RED NOVA EARL to continue with normal voyage.
“The on-scene coordinator, GOLEN EARL reported by 2am on 13 September 2023 that the two Taiwanese fishing vessels had arrived by, and the JAIN LIH NO 212 recovered the 16 crew. No injuries were reported to MRCC Cape Town. The GOLDEN EARL was also released to continue with normal voyage. The on-scene coordinator reported that both fishing vessels shall continue with fishing operations.
“MRCC Cape Town appreciates the efforts of all vessels involved, and the assistance provided by RCC Taipei and Telkom Maritime Radio.”
A rescue operation for fishermen onboard a Taiwanese vessel reportedly sinking is currently underway some 598 kilometers off the coast of Durban in the Indian Ocean, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reports.
The number of fishermen involved is not yet known, save for a MayDay call recorded from the sinking vessel at about 03.18pm (South African time), said the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response based Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town. A number of vessels in proximity of the reportedly sinking fishing vessel had since been mobilised to offer assistance, said the MRCC.
According to the MRCC: “MRCC Cape Town was notified at 15:18 today (12 September 2023) by RCC Taipei that the Taiwanese fishing vessel (FV) DER HAE NO 66 was sinking due to flooding in a position approximately 323NM (598km) East-south-east from Durban, and that the Taiwanese fishing vessels DER HAE NO 6 and ZAN LI NO 212 were diverting to assist.
“The weather forecast for the incident position is winds South-east up to 25 knots (approximately 48km/h) and the Sea State being swell of up to 4m mainly south westerly, as per South African Weather Services (SAWS).
“A MAYDAY relay was issued by Telkom Maritime Radio at the request of MRCC Cape Town and the Liqued Natural Gass Carrier, LOBITA was requested to divert and assist after responding.
“The LOBITA was approximately 155NM (287km) west from the incident position. The vessels bulk carrier, GOLDEN EARL, at approximately 35NM (65km) and the crude oil tanker, RED NOVA EARL, at approximately 60NM (111km), were identified on AIS and requested to divert to the incident position for assistance to be rendered.
“This is a developing and dynamic incident with the SAR response being conducted as aligned with the SASAR Act and Policy.”
This blog will update the story as and when new information is shared.
