Six fishermen missing at sea found safe

The NSRI launched a rescue vessel to transport the fishermen in the last leg to Simon’s Town. File Picture: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers

The NSRI launched a rescue vessel to transport the fishermen in the last leg to Simon’s Town. File Picture: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers

Published Mar 26, 2024

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The six fishermen who went missing at sea off Cape Town at the weekend have been found safe, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) confirmed on Tuesday.

The men are believed to be from Hout Bay and Hawston in the Western Cape.

An extensive search operation was under way for the men who went missing on Saturday while on board a grey Ballistic 7.8 metre rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) named ‘Berta Fishing Experience’.

They were reported missing by concerned family, colleagues, and friends on Sunday.

A tearful reunion as the six fishermen who were rescued on Tuesday were reunited with their relatives. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane

The NSRI communications in cooperation with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) said the men were recovered off Cape Point.

A tearful reunion as the six fishermen who were rescued on Tuesday were reunited with their relatives. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane

“In an extensive search and rescue operation involving multiple resources, reaching in excess of 80 nautical miles south-east of Cape Point, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Fisheries Patrol vessel Ellen Khuzwayo located and recovered the six missing fishermen deep sea off Cape Point. They are reportedly all in good health and not injured. At this stage we expect them to arrive in Simon’s Town at around 10am today (local time),” the agencies said.

A tearful reunion as the six fishermen who were rescued on Tuesday were reunited with their relatives. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane

The NSRI crew in Simon’s Town has launched a rescue craft and will be escorting the fishermen on the last leg of their journey to Simon’s Town.

A tearful reunion as the six fishermen who were rescued on Tuesday were reunited with their relatives. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane

NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon lauded the maritime community for a sterling job.

A tearful reunion as the six fishermen who were rescued on Tuesday were reunited with their relatives. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane

“The support and efforts of the maritime community as well as the extensive search carried out by DFFE Fisheries Patrol vessels Ellen Khuzwayo and Ruth First who extensively searched a plotted search grid taking sea drift, wind speeds, and direction into account, by MRCC SAR Coordinator, is commended in the successful rescue operation,” Lambinon said.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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