Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas station commander, said: “At 09h00 on Saturday 2 June, NSRI Agulhas volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a fishing boat, the 8 meter Piranha, with 10 fishermen onboard, taking water and reporting to be sinking 12 nautical miles off-shore of Agulhas, at the ’12 Mile Bank’, a popular deep sea fishing spot on the Western Cape Coast.
“Sea conditions are a 2.5 to 3 meter gentle swell with little wind.
“Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Vodacom Rescuer VII and the Western Cape Government EMS AMS Skymed helicopter from Cape Town and the Western Cape Government EMS AMS Skymed helicopter from Oudtshoorn responded and Western Cape Government Health EMS ambulances were dispatched and they are standing-by at Struis Baai harbour.
“Hermanus NSRI were placed on alert.
“While our sea rescue craft responded to the scene we received reports that two private fishing vessels had arrived on-scene, the fishing vessel Peg-Leg and the fishing vessel Waggies, and 5 of the fishermen from Piranha had been taken onboard Waggies and while the remaining 5 fishermen remained onboard their fishing vessel Piranha they were reported to be safe.
“The fishing vessel Peg-Leg had attempted to take Piranha under tow but the tow-line had failed and they then reported to be standing-by on-scene (in case they needed to take the remaining 5 fishermen off Piranha) while they waited for the imminent arrival of our NSRI sea rescue craft.
“On the NSRI sea rescue craft arriving on-scene the casualty boat was taken under tow by our NSRI sea rescue craft and is currently being safely towed to Struis Baai harbour (with the 5 fishermen still onboard) and the 5 fishermen that were taken onboard Waggies are also being brought to Struis Baai harbour.
“Their estimated time of arrival in Struis Baai harbour is midday.
“The Skymed helicopters have been stood down, as they are no longer required, and they are returning to base.
“No injuries have been sustained to any of the 10 fishermen.
“It is not yet known what may have caused the fishing vessel to take on water and SAMSA (The South African Maritime Safety Authority) will conduct an investigation to determine what caused this incident.”
