A fishing trawler that was sinking with 21 crew members on board was safely towed to Port Elizabeth, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Sunday.
At 5am on Sunday it was reported to the NSRI in Port Elizabeth that the 19m fishing boat Ellis S was sinking about 18 nautical miles from the port of Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
NSRI Port Elizabeth deputy station commander Paul Killeen said the boat was successfully towed by rescue craft Spirit of Toft at noon on Sunday.
”With heavy weather closing in, the towing proved successful and the vessel and all her crew are safely in Port with no damage reported,” said Killeen.
NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteers were activated at 5am following a report from the trawler, registered to the Port of St Francis, that it was taking water.
”We launched our 10m deep-sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft and our 7m rigid inflatable Rescue 6 Alpha immediately.
”Sea conditions were 1,5m to 2m swells with a 10-knot easterly wind and showers,” said Killeen.
On arrival the NSRI crew members were transferred to the ”casualty vessel” to assess the damage and an extra water pump was put on board to help pump water from the vessel.
”The captain and crew had managed to stem the flow of water entering the vessel,” Killeen said.
A National Port Authority tug boat was placed on alert to take over the tow if necessary.
”The trawler was not damaged and the crew not injured,” said Killeen. — Sapa