Updated. Fire At Sea, All Crew Safe

A potentially nasty incident at sea was averted late yesterday when 21 fishing vessel crew were saved thanks to the rapid response of the NSRI and several fishing vessels who went to their rescue.

According to reports the squid vessel Silver Dorado, owned by Talhado Fishing Enterprises, had left the Port of Port Elizabeth earlier in the day heading to fishing grounds. It issued a Mayday distress call just before 6pm last night reporting a fire onboard and that all 21 crew were preparing to abandon the vessel.

Eyewitnesses had also contacted the NSRI via the national 112 emergency number of a fishing vessel ablaze about one nautical mile offshore of Noordhoek, Gqeberha.

A coordinated rescue operation was put into motion while Telkom Maritime Radio Services notified vessels in the area to divert to assist survivors reported to be abandoning the casualty fishing vessel.

First on the scene was the FV Leguga, which launched its own life-raft to assist fishermen who were in the water near to their burning fishing vessel. By the time 12 fishermen had been recovered from the sea, another five fishing vessels had arrived on the scene to help with the safe rescue of all 21 crew members.

The NSRI reports that the skipper discovered the fire which appeared to have started while all the crew members had been resting. It had spread so fast that the crew had to abandon ship without having time to launch their own life-raft.

The casualty crew were then transferred to NSRI’s rescue craft and returned to shore in the port of Port Elizabeth. Nobody was injured. 

It is reported that the still burning casualty fishing vessel drifted towards Cape Recife and by 22:30 the vessel had grounded in a rocky area. At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying about 14 tonnes of diesel fuel, 100 litres of lubricants, and eight 19kg LPG gas cylinders. No fish cargo was onboard.

Following the incident, instructions were issued for the appointment of a professional salvaging team to manage firefighting and recovery operations. Measures were also taken to contain potential pollution risks. Cargo checks confirmed hazardous substances onboard, including LPG cylinders.

A navigation warning was issued, and drift modelling was initiated to monitor the vessel’s movement. Weather forecasts are being reviewed, and contingency plans are in place including the possible deployment of additional support vessels.

The vessel’s insurance cover has been confirmed, and SAMSA is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including TNPA, NSRI, Department of Transport and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, to ensure compliance with maritime safety and pollution prevention regulations. Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is on site and is actively monitoring the area for any signs of affected seabirds. At this stage, the pollution risk is unknown.  

The investigation will focus on determining the cause of the fire, assessing environmental impact, and reviewing emergency response effectiveness.

Talhado says in a statement it is working closely and transparently with SAMSA and all relevant authorities and will continue to cooperate fully. All public communications regarding this matter will be handled through the established Incident Management IMS headed by SAMSA.

“Until this investigation is concluded, it would be premature and inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the fire, and Talhado will therefore not comment further on this aspect at this stage,” it concludes.

• This article has been updated as information has become available.