By Kamini Padayachee

Early investigations into the sinking of a Spanish fishing trawler just off the Durban coast on Monday suggest that the vessel's sea chest malfunctioned.

17 crewmen from the Acechador sent out a distress signal late on Monday night after their ship started sinking. The men had to be airlifted to safety by members of the National Sea Rescue Institute and the South African Navy.

The dishevelled and traumatised crew, who are mostly Spanish, were treated for shock by South African Navy personnel on Tuesday.

South African Navy vessel SAS Protea Captain Theo Stokes, who responded to the distress call, said they were the third vessel who responded to the Mayday call.
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