At 12h06 on 1 November 2011 NSRI Still Bay were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to search for a life-raft believed to be adrift at sea between Still Bay and Witsand with 4 fishermen onboard believed to be Sri Lankans.
The NSRI Still Bay volunteer duty sea rescue crew launched the NSRI Still Bay sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF ST FRANCIS to respond to approximately 18 nautical miles off-shore of Still Bay (between Still Bay and Witsand) on a search and rescue operation to search for 4 people reporting to be adrift at sea on a life-raft.
It initially appeared that the life-raft and the 4 fishermen may have been adrift at sea since as early as Saturday after their fishing trawler, the 57.5 foot Sri-Lankan registered DESHAN LANKA, apparently caught fire.
According to reports the 4 fishermen were not injured but their exact whereabouts, although suspected to be in the vicinity of coordinates provided to Maritime authorities, still had to be determined.
SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority) detained the fishing trawler in East London a month ago after a routine inspection found the vessel to be carrying no Marine VHF Radio and no safety equipment – no life-jackets, no red distress flares and no life–raft and the vessel was only released (to return to sea) once these requirements had been met (by the owners) to the satisfaction of SAMSA authorities.
It is believed that the vessel was heavily laden with fuel reportedly for a voyage to Sierra Leone.
Enrico Menezies, NSRI Still Bay station commander, said; “On arrival in the search area a search commenced from our sea rescue craft and once we began searching (at coordinates that the 4 men had given to their ships agent) we were also provided with a cell phone number belonging to the men and we called them and were able to determine their position from their GPS (Global Positioning System).
“We found them 18 nm South West of Still Bay and the nearest land to where they were was Jongensfontein, about 10 nautical miles away.
“The were quite emotional and appeared very glad to see us thanking us and they are all in good spirits although the language barrier was a bit of a problem it was clear to see the delight on their faces from being rescued.
“From what we understand their vessel caught fire and sunk on Sunday afternoon (not on Saturday as previously though). They abandoned their sinking vessel and got into their life-raft and red distress flares that they set off appear to have gone unnoticed.
“It is not exactly clear where their vessel caught fire and sunk and we are awaiting a formal investigation to hear the finer details but they were not in cell-phone range and only drifted into cell-phone range at around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday 1 November, when they were able to make a phone call to raise the alarm.
“They were brought back to our sea rescue station, aboard our sea rescue craft, and we have fed them and made them comfortable.
“The Sri Lankan Embassy are assisting us with language interpretation and SAMSA (The South African Maritime safety Authority) have obtained a statement. The 4 men have been handed into the custody of South African immigration officials.
“Metro EMS paramedics and our local Still Bay doctor have checked the 4 men who are all in good health and they appeared a lot happier after eating a hot meal.”
The names of the men, all adult males, are not being released until the immigration authorities and their agents have formally processed the immigrants.
