Andre Barnard, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said: At 00h58, Thursday, 8 July, NSRI Hermanus duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from 2 Hawston fishermen, on a 4.5 meter RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat), reporting engine failure off-shore of Schulphoek and drifting in the direction of Hermanus.
The sea rescue craft Rotarian Burnett was launched and we rendezvoused with the 2 fishermen finding them safe but adrift on their RHIB.
A towline was established and we towed them to Hermanus Harbour and they required no further assistance once their boat was recovered.
It appears that they had decided to get some late night fishing in before the approaching cold front and stormy weather reached Hermanus on Thursday.
NSRI SAFETY ALERT:
NSRI are appealing to anyone launching any kind of craft to go to sea to download and use the NSRI RSA SafeTrx free cellphone application that can be downloaded from our web page www.nsri.org.za.
SafeTrx allows our NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) duty controllers to monitor craft at sea in real time.
If you are overdue from your planned trip NSRI EOC and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) are alerted immediately.
If you get into an emergency situation while at sea an emergency button on the application is pressed alerting NSRI EOC and MRCC.
The emergency information received gives rescue coordinators real time information on your exact location, the type and colors of your craft and the users details with the details of a family member.
This enables NSRI rescue resources to respond directly to the location of the emergency beacon swiftly without any delays.
NSRI use the phrase “NSRI RSA SafeTrx takes the “search” out of Search and Rescue” and we appeal to everyone launching any kind of craft to go to sea to have and use NSRI RSA SafeTrx.
