A 50m Japanese fishing trawler runs aground at First Beach in Clifton
A 50m fishing trawler has run aground at First Beach in Clifton, Cape Town on Saturday morning, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
“All people on board at this stage are safe, but with an incoming tide that may change,” NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.
The Japanese trawler was about 20m offshore and rescue efforts were in progress.
A 28 person crew, including a dog, were on board the trawler, named <i>Eihatsu Maru</i>, City of Cape Town disaster risk management centre spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said.
The trawler ran aground at about 5.15am.
“At this stage there is no immediate risk of oil pollution to the coastline as a result of the stranding of the vessel,” Solomons-Johannes said.
“The city dispatched disaster response teams to the scene, however the salvaging operations has been hampered by thick fog.”
The Associated Press reported that 19 people had been taken off the trawler, with the captain, the dog and a skeleton crew remained on board. – Sapa.