Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander said: “At 08h50 on Sunday, 07 March, NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Melkbosstrand, Lifeguards, the SA Police Services, a Police Dive Unit, Cape Town Fire an Rescue Services and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services launched a search for a 33 year old Khayelitsha man reported to have gone missing in the surf while allegedly trying to evade being apprehended by Crime Watch members at Milnerton Beach after allegedly stabbing a female believed to be his girlfriend.

“An extensive search which included 25 rescue swimmers deployed into the surf to conduct a sweeping line search, a Fire and Rescue Services rescue rubber-duck, an NSRI rescue craft and a Lifesaving rescue rubber duck has revealed no sign of the missing man.

“Police will continue with the ongoing search operation.

“The female involved in the incident was transported to hospital in a stable condition by a Metro ambulance.”

On Monday 1 March at 18h08 NSRI Kommetjie, NSRI Hout Bay, NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of a small yacht being swept out to sea between Kommetjie and Hout Bay and appearing to be in difficulty in gusting 45 knot winds.

During the search the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter located the yacht 5 nautical miles off-shore of Llandudno but they were under motor power and heading towards Port in Cape Town.

Ian Ruthven, NSRI Hout Bay duty coxswain, said that their progress was monitored until they were safe in port.

It is believed they sustained motor failure to their small yacht but were swept off-shore in the strong gusting winds before managing to get their motors started.

On Monday 1 March at 17h38 NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of two surf-skiers in difficulty 1 nautical mile off Mouille Point lighthouse.

NSRI Bakoven launched their rescue craft Spirit of Rotary – Table Bay, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded, NSRI rescue vehicles and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services responded.

Johnny Albert, NSRI Bakoven duty coxswain, said that the 2 surf-skiers, friends from the United Kingdom, one from Northern Scotland and the other from London, had launched from the Three Anchor Bay slip-way into gusting 40 knot off-shore winds but the less experienced surf-skier, the man from London, had quickly capsized his craft and his friend was trying to assist him to get back on his surf-ski, without success, while the 2 men were being blown out to sea. They were not wearing life-jackets.

2 passing surf-skiers attempted to assist them but faced getting into difficulties themselves and had to abandon their attempts.

A fishing trawler was diverted to the scene by the Transnet National Ports Authority, but, being too large to render a rescue themselves they stood-by on-scene to provide a shelter to the 2 surf-skiers from the wind while rescue resources responded to the scene.

A smaller fishing boat that happened to be passing by at the time took both men and one of their surf-ski’s on-board their vessel and on the arrival of the NSRI rescue craft both men were transferred onto the rescue craft and brought in to the Three Anchor Bay slip-way where they were treated for mild hypothermia and released requiring no further assistance.

One of the surf-ski’s was lost to the sea and it is expected to wash ashore.

Stuart Burgess, NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty coxswain said: “On Tuesday, 02 March at 18h54 NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew were activated following reports of red distress flares being activated in the vicinity of Harbour Island.

“The NSRI Gordon’s Bay members were on base at the time preparing for a monthly crew meeting and immediately launched our rescue craft.

“On arrival on-scene a group of surf-skiers were found approximately ¾ nautical miles off-shore and it was established that one of the surf-skiers, a 49 year old local man, had sustained a suspected heart attack while taking part in a regular organised “downwind” paddle from Gordon’s Bay to the Strand in which 28 surf-skiers were taking part.

Sea conditions were gusting to 30 knot South Easterly winds and choppy seas.

“The surf-skier, who was being kept out of the water by three fellow paddlers who were using their surf-ski’s to keep the man’s body afloat, was immediately transferred on-board our rescue craft and he presented with no pulse and no breathing and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were immediately commenced by our NSRI paramedic while the rescue craft returned to our rescue base.

“Once ashore paramedics continued with CPR but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared dead.

“A brief search was then conducted for two men on a double surf-ski who had assisted in the rescue but they were found safe.

“While it is suspected that the man suffered a heart attack a post mortem will determine the exact cause of death.”

In Table Bay on Friday 19 February 2010 at 09h00, NSRI Melkbosstrand responded to North of Robben Island to assist the skipper of the yacht Morgenster taking part in a yacht Regatta to Langebaan.

The skipper knocked her head on the yacht boom and suffered suspected concussion.

NSRI Table Bay launched their rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom to tow the casualty yacht to the Royal Cape Yacht Club after medics from NSRI Melkbosstrand found the skipper to be showing signs of a concussion injury to her head and the yachts crew did not feel competent to sail the yacht back into port without the skills of their skipper.

NSRI Table Bay deputy station commander, Ian Gross, said that to add to the casualty yachts dilemma rope had fouled around her motors and the decision was taken to tow the yacht into Port at Table Bay.

Ian said that once safely in the port the female skipper was taken to hospital as a precaution although she seemed to be doing fine.

And in Hermanus on Saturday, 20 February 2010 at 09h25, NSRI Hermanus launched their rescue craft Hunters Gold rescuer to respond to Harder Bay following reports of a dinghy capsized.

NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, Ian Alton, said that on arrival on-scene a Mr. J de Kock, from Onrus River, and a Mr. C. Van der Merwe, from Somerset West, were found to have already been picked up by a private boat and they were found to not be injured.

The NSRI duty crew righted the dinghy and towed her to Harder Bay slip-way where no further assistance was required.

At 11h25 NSRI Hermanus responded to Kwaai Water following reports of a swimmer in difficulty.

Ian Alton said that on arrival on-scene the unidentified swimmer was found to have already made it safely ashore and required no assistance.

At 11h42 NSRI Hermanus were then activated to respond back to Harder Bay where a semi-rigid-rubber-duck had capsized.

On arrival on-scene both victims had been picked up by a private boat and they were not injured.

The NSRI duty crew righted the rubber-duck and towed it to Harder Bay slip-way.

Ian Alton said that the twist here is that it was again Mr. J de Kock who had capsized for the second time after requesting his friend, a Mr. PJ Swart, to take him out into the Bay to retrieve his fishing nets which he had left behind after he capsized in the dinghy earlier.

The same private boat that picked him and Mr. Swart up was again on hand to rescue him in the second incident.

The NSRI have suggested he doesn’t launch to go to sea again until at least tomorrow!

On Sunday 14 February, NSRI Hermanus responded aboard Hunters Gold Rescuer to assist a rubber-duck at Skilphoek, near Hermanus, with engine failure, with 2 men and a female on-board, all from Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs.

NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, Ian Alton, said that on arrival on-scene the crew aboard the casualty boat were found to be safe but drifting without motor power.

A tow-line was rigged and the NSRI duty crew towed the rubber-duck to Hermanus harbour and once safely in the harbour no further assistance was required.

At 18h06 NSRI Hout Bay, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of a man fallen from the main view point at Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Brad Geyser, NSRI Hout Bay station commander said that on arrival on-scene it was determined that a man had allegedly fallen from the mountain and it is believed that his female partner, who was with him at the time, had attempted to go to his aid but it appears that she had gotten into difficulty herself and she became trapped on a ledge with some injuries.

Brad said that two NSRI rescue craft had searched for the man in the sea and during the search the body of the man was recovered onto an NSRI rescue craft and taken to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue base and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.

The female was rescued by a Metro Rescue team using high angle equipment and she has been treated for minor injuries.

Police have opened an inquest docket into the death of the man.

During the rescue operation a “Hout Bay Surf Rescue” crew launched their rescue rubber-duck to respond to this operation but they capsized and were rescued by the NSRI. Brad said that the NSRI rescue craft towed the capsized craft to Hout Bay harbour. Neither of the two “Hout Bay Surf Rescue” crewmen were injured.

At 23h40 NSRI Hout Bay was activated following reports from the Maritime Radio Services of a yacht run onto rocks near to “Fish on the Rocks”.

Brad Geyser said that prior to launching the NSRI Hout Bay’s rescue craft it was confirmed that the crew aboard yacht Margarite Anne had freed themselves from a rocky reef and had motored into Hout Bay unassisted.

Melkbosstrand:

At 15h23 NSRI Melkbosstrand responded to “Slabberts se Klippe”, half a kilometre from the NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue base, following reports of two men on a rubber duck firing off distress flares.

Rhine Barnes, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, said that on arrival on-scene the two men, Pierre van Niewenhuizen, 36, and Tinus Pretorius, 26, both from Durbanville, were found safe on the beach after a local kite-boarder had assisted to tow them ashore.

The two men had experienced engine failure on their rubber-duck approximately 500 metres off-shore and had fired the distress flares when a kite-boarder came to their assistance and assisted them ashore.

Rhine said that the NSRI duty crew loaded their boat onto an NSRI boat trailer and brought their boat to the NSRI rescue base where they required no further assistance.

Gordon’s Bay:

At 09h25 NSRI Gordon’s Bay, the SA Police Services, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded to Pringle Bay following reports of a dinghy boat being blown out to sea in a 25 knot off-shore wind with three young men on-board.

Stuart Burgess, NSRI Gordon’s Bay deputy station commander said that the rescue helicopter arrived on-scene first and found the three men clinging onto their sinking 3 metre fibreglass dinghy. They had only a pair of oars and no life-jackets on-board.

The rescue helicopter hovered above the men, who were now already 2 nautical miles off-shore, to mark their position for the responding NSRI rescue craft that was nearing the scene but suddenly the boat they were on capsized and semi-sunk so a rescue swimmer was deployed into the water from the rescue helicopter to secure the 3 men and to ensure their safety and when the rescue craft arrived all 3 men were rescued onto the rescue craft and brought to the NSRI rescue base in Gordon’s Bay where they were reunited with their families.

All 3 men, Byron Jansen, 20, Lezaan Pietersen, 22, Akiam Abrahams, 15, all from New Tafelsig, were treated for hypothermia and released requiring no further assistance.

Stuart said that it was especially noted that during the operation the NSRI rescue vehicle, carrying two NSRI rescue swimmers, which had responded to the land side of Pringle Bay, had acted as a communications relay to the responding helicopter and NSRI rescue boat providing essential information to the responding rescue resources that played a major role in this successful rescue operation.

As the summer holidays come to an end, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has made a earnest plea for proper beach signage.

“All along our beaches we see beautiful signage teaching children about whales and other local marine fauna and flora – but how many signs are there detailing EMERGENCY numbers.” says Ian Wienburg, NSRI CEO.

“When a child goes missing, when a boat capsizes, when a canoeist is in difficultly, when a tourist is caught in a rip current …..who does the public call?”

“We advise the public to only swim at beaches where and when lifeguards are on duty.  But, the reality is that responsible members of the public witness people getting into trouble but then do not know who to alert for help.”

“For 12 years we have asked the national regulator for one central number for sea rescue emergencies but we have been unsuccessful.”

“At the moment all sea rescue emergencies are reported to the nearest Transnet National Port Office, who then alert the appropriate NSRI volunteer rescue crew.”

“Signage on beaches, and at dams, detailing the appropriate telephone number would go a long way to saving lives.”

“When someone is in trouble in the water, every second counts; there is simply no time to then start paging through a telephone directory.”

“We urge all municipalities to take up the challenge and prioritise signage at beaches and dams.  Drowning is a primary cause of accidental death in our country and a simple sign can make a difference.”

Table Bay Port Control Emergency Number: 021 449-3500

The above number is for all emergencies along the coastal area from Dassen Island to Cape Aghulhas

Eschewing direct media contact the family of Fishhoek Shark Attack victim Lloyd Skinner and his partner, Debby Paine, issued the following statement via the NSRI:

We would be very grateful if thanks could be extended to all concerned that were involved in the search and rescue, and post- attack operations relating to the fatal shark attack on Lloyd Skinner on Tuesday 12th January, 2010.

From the initial contact with the Fish Hoek  Lifesavers, NSRI, Fish Hoek Police, Trauma Support Unit, ‘Nippers’ moms – FHSLC, Save Our Seas Shark Centre, Fish Hoek Life Saving Club staff, members of Fish Hoek Community and many others who helped without even making us aware of who they were.  The kindness and support shown to Lloyd’s partner Debby Paine immediately following the incident was unparalleled.  Special mention should be made of Janeen Orford, Ian Klopper and Mike Schilperoort.

Lloyd had spent many vacations in Fish Hoek and was very happy following his love of the outdoor pursuits, of road running, fishing and of course swimming. The Fish Hoek community were always hospitable and it was no wonder Lloyd returned time and time again to this town.

A memorial service has been arranged for Lloyd in Harare Zimbabwe and will be held on Friday 22nd January.  A remarkable and accomplished man in his professional career, his sporting achievements, and in his personal relationships.

Once again our sincere thanks to all concerned who we have come into contact with.

(Signed)

John and Margie Skinner (Lloyd’s parents)
Diane and Debra Skinner (Lloyd’s sisters)
Debby Paine  (Lloyd’s partner)

RIP Lloyd Skinner

Ian Klopper, NSRI helicopter rescue commander, said: “A 37 year old Zimbabwean man remains missing after eye-witnesses observed him being bitten by a shark 100 metres off Fish Hoek beach at approximately 15h18 on 12 January.

An extensive search by rescue craft from NSRI Simonstown, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter and a lifeguard rescue rubber duck has revealed no sign of the missing man and a Police Dive Unit will join in the ongoing search at first light tomorrow.

“The NSRI are in close contact with the mans family in Zimbabwe but the name of the man will not be released until his sisters can be reached abroad.

” At Fish Hoek beach today the shark spotters black flag, warning of shark activity in the area, was flying at the time and although shark spotters were on-duty at the time no sign of the shark was observed prior to the incident.

“Sea conditions remain poor vizibility due to murky water which has prevented a dive search immediately.

“The missing man is from Harare, Zimbabwe, although he lived in the Congo for some time and was in Cape Town for the past 10 days with his partner and was due to leave for the United Kingdom in a weeks time.
“According to eye-witnesses the man had waded into the surf approximately 100 metres off-shore and he was standing in chest deep water when the incident took place.

“The NSRI and shark spotters continue to warn of increased shark activity close in-shore on the False Bay coast and bathers and surfers should leave the water when shark spotters sound the alarm and caution swimming and surfing along this stretch of coast.”

In two seperate incidents over the past week massive search and rescue operations have been carried out in Cape Town unnecessarily.

As crowds begin to flock to the beaches and waterways and boaters and paddlers launch in larger than normal numbers the NSRI are appealing for sensible and responsible behaviour on our waters, inland and coastal.

On Sunday night, 06th December, at 22h00, a massive search and rescue operation ensued after a vehicle was found parked after normal closing time at Oceana Power Boat Club.

Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander said: “The vehicle belongs to a member of the club who is well known to be out paddling most of the time and the vehicle showed all indications that the owner had gone paddling at sea. With nightfall and a dense fog rolling in the NSRI Tabe Bay volunteers scoured the coastline for signs of the paddler. All efforts throughout the night to raise family or friends to check on any other possible whereabouts of the man were fruitless and included joint efforts by Metro Police, Cape Town Traffic Department, Metro Rescue, the SA Police Services, East London Police and Traffic Services and Durban Police and Traffic Services. Throughout the night concerned friends and famly were phoned all around South Africa by the rescue authorities trying to locate a friend or family member who would be able to trace someone in Cape Town who would know the whereabouts of the “paddler” if he hadn’t gone to sea, and all the while scouring the coast for signs of the “missing” paddler, increasing concern and causing obvious anxiety to the mans family and friends.”

At approximately 03h30 the man was tracked down and it was discovered he had left the boat club earlier in the evening in a friends car and he hadn’t gone paddling.

The NSRI urge boaters and paddlers to leave a contactable number at their vehicles and/or trailers left unattended at waterways and along the coast.

Always let a responsible person know what time you are launching, the route you are going and your return time and check-in with the responsible person on your safe return.

On Wednesday night, 09th December, at 20h00, NSRI Bakoven’s rescue craft, the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, a Police helicopter, a Police rubber duck and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services initiated an extensive search in Clifton for a paddler, witnessed by a large number of seperate eye-witnesses, in difficulty and constantly capsizing his craft while trying to reach shore.
Eye-witnesses later reported seeing a paddler come ashore at Clifton, but no sign of the paddler could be found and at midnight the search was suspended.

Despite public appeals for the paddler to come forward to identify to rescue authorities that he is safe no word has yet been received and the fate of the paddler remains a mystery although no one has been reported overdue or missing.

The NSRI are appealing to anyone who abandons a craft at sea or who gets into difficulty at sea or on inland waters but manages to “self rescue” themselves and get to shore safely without assistance to alert the rescue authorities that they are safe and thereby avoid a poential search and rescue operation being carried out without it being necessary.

Kite-Boards and Paddle Craft should also have a contactable telephone number stensiled on the craft.

To find out your nearest Sea Rescue Emergency phone number call the NSRI Head Office during office hours at (021) 4344011.

Other National Emergency Medical and Rescue Phone Numbers are:

1. 10177 (from a landline or a cellphone)
2. 112 (from a cellphone)

1. Don’t drink alcohol and then swim, boat, paddle or sail.
   Children should have responsible adult supervision around water and at the beaches at all times.
   Wear your lifejacket while on any craft on water at all times.
   Carry safety equipment, red distress flares, a referees whistle, a cd disc or handheld mirror, communication cellphone and/or vhf radio, bright reflective clothing, at all times while on any craft at sea or on inland waters and know how to use your safety equipment.
   Go to beaches only when and where lifeguards are on duty and swim within the safe swimming zones posted by lifeguards using red and yellow flags. These safe swimming zones will shift position according to where lifeguards detect the strongest rip-currents.
   Be responsible, keep safety top of mind and keep safe.

Ian Wienburg, CEO of the NSRI, and all staff and volunteers of the NSRI wish everyone a safe festive season.

A fatal drowning accident occurred at Fish Hoek beach on Sunday 6 December in the afternoon.

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said the NSRI Simonstown volunteer duty crew dispatched a rescue vehicle and the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III to respond to the scene at 15h20 following confirmation from on-duty lifeguards at Fish Hoek beach that a man was missing in the surf in front of the Fish Hoek hobie-cat club.

CMR (Cape Medical Response) paramedics, Metro False Bay volunteer Emergency Medical Services and the SA Police Services also responded to the scene to assist.

On arrival on-scene the NSRI joined lifeguards who were already searching for the missing 27 year old man from Gassy Park.

It was confirmed that the brother of the missing man had tried desperately, in vain, to rescue his brother who it appears had gotten caught in strong rip-currents.

It was only after the brother of the missing man swam to the beach and collapsed on the beach, after trying desperately to save his brother, that anyone noticed that there was someone in difficulty and alerted the on-duty lifeguards.

During the search operation the body of the 27 year old man was found in shallow surf, further down the beach, and the CMR and Metro volunteer paramedics initiated Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation efforts but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared dead on the scene.

The body of the man has been handed into the care of the SA Police Services and the Forensic Pathology Services.

Two fatal drowning accidents and one near drowning accident in the Western Cape over this weekend highlights the importance for beach goers to exercise extreme caution at our beaches Nationally over the festive season.

Two of these drowning accidents, both fatal, at Eerste Steen on Saturday and at Fish Hoek on Sunday, occurred at beaches where lifeguards are on duty.

All three drowning accidents are suspected to have been caused by strong rip-currents and the near drowning accident at Camps Bay beach, on Saturday night, is suspected to have been caused by a combination of alcohol abuse and strong rip-currents.

The NSRI are urging beach goers to only swim within the safe swimming demarcated zones marked by lifeguards, at beaches where they are on duty, with red and yellow flags.

Do not drink alcohol and go swimming or boating. Be very aware that strong rip-currents prevail all along the coastline. Wear your lifejacket at all times while on any craft on water.

Struisbaai, 06th December, 2009: Shane Kempen, NSRI Agulhas station commander said: “On the 01st December, this trawler, pictured below, ran aground at Struisbaai mini breakwater in the harbour after drifting onto the rocks while attempting to berth.

“The harbour master requested the NSRI to respond to the scene at 16h17 and on arrival on-scene it was determined that all crew had managed to get off the Chokka fishing boat Stella and no lives were at risk and no one was injured and the NSRI were not required on the scene as no lives were in any danger.

“The vessel was taken off the rocks and berthed at high tide later that evening by the owners using an excavator and ropes.”

Struisbaai Trawler

Camps Bay, 06th December, 2009: Mark Thompson, NSRI Bakoven station commander said: “At 20h17, on Saturday the 05th December, NSRI Bakoven were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Camps Bay beach.

“NSRI Bakoven volunteers responded to the scene where a female, aged in her mid 20’s, from Khayelitsha, was found on the beach suffering near drowning symptoms. The female had been rescued from the surf by an unidentified bystander.

“Treatment was administered by paramedics on the scene and the female was transported to hospital in a stable condition by an ambulance.

“It is suspected that the female was inebriated from alcohol consumption resulting in her getting into difficulty while swimming.

“The NSRI are urging the public not to drink alcohol before swimming in any water, inland or coastal, and not to drink alcohol before or while boating, sailing or paddling.”

The NSRI have been informed that a male aged in his mid 20’s drowned at Eerste Steen beach, near Bloubergstrand, on Saturday, 05th December, at approximately 11h00. Lifeguards removed the man from the water and paramedics attempted Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts which were later terminated after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted and he was declared dead.

Struisbaai, 06th December, 2009: Shane Kempen, NSRI Agulhas station commander said: “NSRI Agulhas volunteers have continued to monitor the coastline since the rescue of a dolphin on the 3rd of December.

“The dolphin was found beached at ‘Die Las’ near Struisbaai and local businessman Andre Mostert alerted the NSRI who responded.

“Assisted by concerned members of the public the 2 metre dolphin was loaded into a Stokes Basket Stretcher and loaded onto our NSRI rescue craft I&J Rescuer and transported to 1 nautical mile off-shore where the dolphin was released and appeared to swim off in a healthy manner barring a few scratches from the original beaching.

“We suspected that the dolphin may re-beach and the coastline has been monitored since and we believe that no sign of the dolphin means that the rescue was successful.”

Dolphin Rescue

At 07h13 NSRI Yzerfontein and NSRI Table Bay were alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority to respond to 9 nautical miles West of Dassen Island following a distress call from the fishing trawler Tiger Reef reporting to be taking water with 13 crew on-board.

NSRI Yzerfontein dispatched their rescue craft Rotary Onwards and NSRI Table Bay dispatched their rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom. A Titan/NSRI helicopter rescue team were placed on alert.

Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert and the fishing vessels Kingklip, JoAnne and Potsberg, who were in the area at the time responded to the scene to assist.

NSRI Yzerfontein station commander, Andre Nel, said that on their arrival on-scene the casualty vessel was lying heavy in the water in rough sea conditions in a 4 metre swell and 10 to 15 knot Southerly wind.

Andre said that all 13 crew were found to be safe and they were using water buckets to extricate water from the vessel.

Andre said that the skipper of the casualty vessel reported that their water extrication pumps were not working and the NSRI transferred an NSRI engineer on-board the casualty vessel but the water pumps could not be started.

Andre said that the NSRI rescue craft then transferred 4 crew from Kingklip onto the casualty vessel, all with buckets, and they assisted the casualty crew to bail water.

On the arrival of NSRI Table Bay’s rescue craft an NSRI water extrication pump was set up and the ingress of water was stemmed from the casualty vessel.

Ian Gross, NSRI Table Bay deputy station commander, said that extra fuel was transferred onto the casualty vessel, from the NSRI rescue craft, and the casualty vessels own water extrication pumps managed to be started.

Ian said that there was no necessity to take any of the casualty crew off the casualty vessel as with all water pumps working the vessel was no longer in danger of sinking.

Ian said that it was then arranged for the fishing trawler Kingklip to take up the tow of the casualty vessel and NSRI Yzerfonteins rescue craft was used to transfer a tow-line between Kingklip and Tiger Reef.

Ian sad that once the tow-line was secured the tow began and the vessels headed towards the Port of Cape Town while NSRI Table Bay’s rescue craft escorted the tow.

NSRI Yzerfontein’s rescue craft and the fishing trawlers JoAnne and Potserg were relieved from duty.

Ian said that during the tow towards the Port of Cape Town NSRI Melkbosstrand launched a rescue craft to take extra fuel out to the scene for the Tiger Reefs water pumps.

This operation, of transferring fuel, was completed successfully.

Ian said that NSRI Table Bay’s rescue craft then returned to base to uplift extra water extrication pumps and a salvage team and these have been successfully delivered to the casualty vessel which is currently lying 1 nautical mile off-shore of Robben Island.

The casualty vessel is due into port at the Port of Cape Town this afternoon. All 13 crew remain safe and no-one was injured.

NSRI Table Bay’s rescue craft Spirit of Rotary remains on-scene.

The cause of the casualty vessel taking on water will be investigated by SAMSA (the South African Maritime Safety Authority).

At 08h50 NSRI Stillbay launched their rescue craft following eye-witness reports of a fishing vessel suspected to have run aground at Ystervarkpunt, 8 nautical miles from Stillbay.

Enrico Menezies, NSRI Stillbay station commander said that on arrival on-scene it was determined that altough a boat was seen close in-shore it had in fact not run aground and had since left the area.

It was confirmed that this was a false alarm with good intentions.