CAPE TOWN - In a challenging rescue operation in unfavourable sea conditions, six crewmen had to be evacuated from a motor vessel off the Port of Durban on Tuesday.
NSRI Durban duty coxswain Clifford Ireland said duty crew and Netcare 911 ambulance services were placed on alert at around 7.30am to prepare to meet a motor vessel bulk carrier later in the day to evacuate six crewmen aboard the motor vessel “suffering a medical condition”.
“Arrangements were being prepared by the ship’s agent following correspondence between Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Port Health authorities, Police Sea Borderline Control, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI Durban duty controllers, Netcare 911 duty commanders and Transnet,” Ireland said.
At 3pm, the sea rescue craft, Alec Rennie and Spirit of Surfski 6, were launched, accompanied by four Netcare 911 rescue paramedics.
“On arrival at the vessel, in unfavourable sea conditions with 3-metre swells, the rescue paramedics and NSRI rescue swimmers were transferred aboard the vessel. Patients were medically assessed by the paramedics, and advanced medical treatment was initiated.
“In a challenging rescue technical transfer operation, five of the patients, in stable conditions, were transferred off the motor vessel onto our sea rescue craft using life-jackets, protective gear and safety lines and one patient, in a serious but stable condition, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft,” Ireland said.
In the care of the paramedics, they were brought to the NSRI Durban rescue base, and all were transported to hospital.
“The five adult Filipino patients and one adult Mozambican patient, in the care of doctors and nurses in hospital, are expected to make full recoveries.”
The rescue and transfer operation was concluded at around 8pm.
Meanwhile, a 28-year-old Mossel Bay fisherman is reported to be on the road to recovery in hospital with his family by his side, following serious injuries sustained in a fire on-board a fishing vessel.
NSRI Gqeberha duty controller Sheryll Grobler said they were activated at 5.30am on Sunday to evacuate the fisherman from the fishing vessel that was headed towards the Port of Port Elizabeth from fishing grounds South of Gqeberha.
“Crew on-board the fishing vessel had contained and extinguished the onboard fire.
“Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft rendezvoused with the Mossel Bay fishing vessel off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth, and NSRI medics were transferred onto the fishing vessel where they continued with medical treatment that had been initiated by the patient's fellow crewmen. In a serious but stable condition, the patient was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to our NSRI Gqeberha rescue base, where medical treatment was continued.
“Netcare 911 ambulance services responded, and in the care of paramedics, the patient was transported to hospital,” Grobler said.