Cape Town - Fourteen crew members of a Cape Town fishing vessel had to scramble to safety following a suspected collision between their ship and a huge cargo ship in thick fog early on Tuesday.
The 14 men were picked up from their life raft on Tuesday after their vessel, the Cape Town-based Lezandi, began to sink, according to the National Sea Rescue Institute.
ER24 reported that paramedics treated the men for minor injuries and shock.
One man was transported to Mediclinic Cape Town for further treatment.
The Lezandi, which was last spotted partially sunk and floating low in the water off Cape Point, belonged to Viking Fishing.
NSRI duty crews from Simon’s Town, Kommetjie and Hout Bay were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority at 1.33am on Tuesday following a Mayday distress call from the Lezandi’s master, who reported his ship was taking water and sinking about 10 nautical miles south-west of Cape Point.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre placed the NSRI’s Air Sea Rescue service on alert and, helped by Telkom Maritime Radio Services, a full-scale search and rescue operation was launched.
Bulk carrier Sunrise Jade reported that it was in the immediate area and was searching for the stricken fishing vessel. Then the fishermen reported they were abandoning their ship.
Other vessels in the area diverted to respond to the emergency.
It was later determined that the Lezandi may have collided with the bulk carrier Sunrise Jade in dense fog.
At about 2.35am, the fishing trawler Freesia located a life raft with the Lezandi’s 14 crew, all apparently safe.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services are broadcasting a maritime navigational warning of the semi-submerged Lezandi, which is drifting off Cape Point.
Sunrise Jade was released to continue to the Port of Saldanha Bay and it appears that the ship was not damaged by the suspected collision.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority will investigate the incident.
Cape Argus