Port Elizabeth (Hafen)

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21 survicors of fire on Silver Dorado taken to Port Elizabeth

On Jan 12, 2026, at 5.52 p.m., the NSRI Gqeberha was activated, after the South African flagged fishing vessel 'Silver Dorado', whoich had departed the Port of Port Elizabeth earlier, was reported to be ablaze approximately one nautical mile off Noordhoek, Gqeberha, to respond to the NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base, while an NSRI shore crew was directed to respond directly to Noordhoek. At the same time NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, and vessel in the area at the time, intercepted a Mayday call on VHF marine channel 16 from the 'Silver Dorado',- reporting a fire and all 21 crew members preparing to abandon the vessel. The fire had spread fast after being discovered by the skipper.All remaining 20 crew members were in bunks resting in preparation to reaching fishing grounds. The skipper alerted his crew, who were forced to abandon ship without having time to launch their own life-raft, but the skipper was able to dispatch a Mayday distress VHF radio call. The NSRI Gqeberha dispatched NSRI rescue swimmers and the NSRI rescue vehicle to respond to Noordhoek. while the NSRI rescue craft 'Bay Guardian' and 'Rescue 6 Alpha' were launched. EC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services were alerted and responded to Noordhoek and responded to the NSRI rescue base at the Port of Port Elizabeth. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) , the Port Elizabeth Port Control, the (South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and the MRCC were alerted. The Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert on VHF channel 16, relaying the Mayday call, alerting vessels in the area to divert to assist. The fishing vessel 'Leguga', after arriving on the scene, launched its own life-raft to assist fishermen who were in the water near to their burning fishing vessel. At that time, all 21 fishermen had abandoned the burning vessel into the sea. At least another five fishing vessels, which had intercepted the Mayday call and subsequent relayed the calls, arrived on the scene where the 'Leguga' at that stage had managed to recover 12 fishermen from their life-raft and from the sea. The fishing vessel 'Raka' rescued four fishermen, the fishing vessel 'Maverick' rescued four fishermen, and the fishing vessel 'Vulcan' rescued one fisherman. All castaways were safe at 9.20 p.m. NSRI rescue craft, arriving on the scene, found all castaways on the four fishing vessels and transferred them onto the 'Bay Guardian' and in relays by the 'Rescue 6 Alpha' to the NSRI rescue base at the Port of Port Elizabeth. They were medically assessed by EMS paramedics and confirmed to be not injured and requiring no medical care. The still blazing fishing vessel drifted towards Cape Recife, where it grounded at 10.30 p.m. At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying approximately 14 tonnes of diesel fuel, 100 litres of lubricants, and eight 19kg LPG gas cylinders. No fish cargo was on board. The 'Rescue 6 Alpha' monitored the vessel, predicting her drift and speed,on behalf of the SAMSA. The owners have appointed a salvage and spill response company who were monitoring and attempting to gain access to the vessel. but were hampered at present by the dangerous reef and darkness. Measures were taken to contain potential pollution risks. Cargo checks confirmed hazardous substances onboard, including LPG cylinders. The cause of the fire was to be investigated by the SAMSA and the police. An all ships alert, warning of the navigational hazard at sea, was broadcast by Telkom Maritime Radio Services. Reports with photos: https://www.nsri.org.za/2026/01/21-fishermen-saved-after-their-vessel-caught-fire/ https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-01-13-fire-breaks-out-on-squid-fishing-vessel-silver-dorado-crew-evacuated-safely/

Medevac in Port Elizabeth

On April 30, 2020, at 11.15 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were alerted by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) requesting assistance to evacuate a Filipino crew member of a bunkering tanker at anchorage off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth. The man required transportation to a dentist as soon as possible and considering the Covid-19 lockdown the Port Health Authorities advised the tasking of NSRI to carry out the operation, taking into consideration that NSRI are well prepared for all Covid-19 Department of Health protocols, regulations and precautions. At 1 p.m. the sea rescue craft 'JLT Rescuer' was launched and rendezvoused with the tanker thre miles off Port Elizabeth in calm seas. The patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and he was brought to shore and transported to a dentist appointment by the ships agent. At 3.30 p.m. the patient returned to the Port of Port Elizabeth and he boarded our sea rescue craft JLT Rescuer and we transported him back to the ship and returned to base without incident.

Crew member died at Port Elizaberth

On May 2, 2020, at 08.50 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew and EC Government Health EMS were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to respond to rendezvous with a bulk carrier approaching Port Elizabeth from Cape Town to attend to a 52 year old Iraqi crew member onboard the ship suffering an emergency medical condition, not Covid-19 related. The sea rescue craft 'Spirit of Toft' was launched accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic and rendezvoused with the ship seven miles East of Cape Recife. The EMS rescue paramedic and an NSRI rescue swimmer were transferred onto the ship and the patient was found to be in a critical condition. The paramedic took over emergency medical treatment from the ships medical crew and the patient, secured into a stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and the EMS paramedic and NSRI medics continued with medical care onboard the sea rescue craft while the patient was brought to the NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue base and in the care of paramedics he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance. Despite extensive efforts by hospital medical staff the patient passed away.