Avril Mocke, NSRI Lamberts Bay station commander, said:
At 11h00, Tuesday, 28th May, NSRI Lamberts Bay duty crew were activated following reports from fishermen at sea on a fishing boat taking water after reportedly striking a whale while underway, 6.5 nautical miles North West of Lamberts Bay.
The 5 fishermen onboard the open fishing boat had transferred onto fellow fishing boats that were in the vicinity fishing together at the time and were confirmed to be safe.
The sea rescue craft Douglas Murray was launched and we rendezvoused with the fishing boats 6.5 nautical miles off-shore.
The casualty fishing boat had sustained a crack in the hull.
We transferred the 5 fishermen onto our sea rescue craft and we took their casualty fishing boat under tow and towed the boat to Lamberts Bay where their boat was recovered.
The 5 fishermen were not injured.
The whale involved is believed to have continued on its way.
We commend the fishermen who assisted on the scene.
After the 5 fishermen were safely ashore we received a call for a fishing boat suffering motor mechanical failure 7 nautical miles West of Lamberts Bay with 4 fishermen onboard and they requested assistance.
We refuelled our sea rescue craft and rendezvoused with the fishermen finding them safe.
A towline was rigged and we towed them to Lamberts Bay harbour without incident where their boat was recovered.
The operation was completed at 17h00.
