SUNRISE JADE

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Bulkcarrier suspected to have sunk trawler - all 14 crew rescued

The South African trawler "Lezandi" may have collided with the "Sunrise Jade" in dense fog. On Jan 19, 2016, at 1.33 a.m. the NSRI Simons Town, NSRI Kommetjie and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a Mayday distress call from the trawler of the Viking Fishing Company with 14 crew onboard, reporting to be taking water and sinking approximately 10 nautical miles SW of Cape Point. The NSRI Simons Town launched the sea rescue craft "Spirit of Surfski II", NSRI Kommetjie launched the Sea Rescue craft "Spirit of the Vines", and the NSRI Hout Bay launched the Sea Rescue craft "Nadine Gordimer" and "Albie Matthews". The boats were proceeding to the last known position reported by the fishing trawler. The MRCC also placed NSRI’s Air Sea Rescue on alert and assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services a full scale search and rescue operation commenced. WC Government Health EMS were placed on alert and the Viking Fishing Company management was alerted and they were kept updated. The "Sunrise Jade" reported to be in the immediate vicinity, and it was established by Telkom Maritime Radio Services in communications with the "Lezandi" that the crew now was abandoning their sinking ship. Additional vessels, in the area at the time or nearby, among them the fishing trawlers "Freesia", "Armano", "Cape Frio", "Flame Thorn" and "Dan Tago" as well as the bulk carrier "Portos" reported to be diverting to respond to the emergency. A red distress flare was sighted in the vicinity. It was suspected that both life rafts of the trawler had been deployed and that the vessel had sunk so the crew in a life raft had deployed a red distress flare. During the search by vessels that had reached the search area, and prior to NSRI sea rescue craft arriving on the scene, at 2.35 a.m. the trawler "Freesia" reported locating a life raft and reported to the rescue authorities that all 14 crew had been found and were not injured and that the casualty crew were then successfully rescued by the crew of the "Freesia" and taken to Cape Town where they will be met by WC Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services and by SAMSA officials where all of the rescued fishermen will be medically assessed as a precautionary measure. The "Lezandi" was believed to be drifting semi submerged and Telkom Maritime Radio Services are broadcasting a maritime navigational warning to warn vessels in the area of the maritime navigational hazard. Both life rafts were recovered. MRCC thanked all vessels that responded to assist and released all vessels from the rescue operation. The "Sunrise Jade" was released to continue to the Port of Saldanha and it appeared that she was not damaged by the suspected collision. The SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority) started to investigate the incident. Sea conditions were dense fog, a 2.5 meter sea swell and a 26 knot South Westerly wind.