Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander, said; “At 00h27, Thursday, 03rd September, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) reporting the 19 meter long line fishing trawler ABE SAPIRO, with 19 crew onboard, suffering loss of motor power and taking on water, 29 nautical miles South West of Cape Town.
“Skipper Josie de Freitas, from Bergvliet, reported that they were unable to get the motor started and they were drifting without motor or electrical power and their vessel had started to take water.
“NSRI Table Bay launched the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF VODACOM and NSRI Hout Bay were activated and their sea rescue craft NADINE GORDIMER was launched carrying an extra water extrication pump and to provide back-up.
“Sea conditions were a 1.5 meter swell in a 20 knot South Easterly wind.
“While responding to the scene the vessel reported that they had managed to get their water extrication pumps working and while still adrift they were no longer taking in water.
“NSRI Hout Bay continued to respond as back-up, at that stage, but once we arrived on-scene, 30 nautical miles South West of Cape Town, and finding all crew safe and after securing a towline to our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF VODACOM and with the casualty vessel safely under tow NSRI Hout Bay were released to return to base and we towed the casualty vessel to the Port of Table Bay without incident.
“The long liner had abandoned her long lines at sea and Telkom Maritime Radio Services will broadcast a Maritime Navigational warning until the company can arrange to recover the lines.
“Once the casualty vessel was safely berthed in Port no further assistance was required.”
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