Jonathan Tufts, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain, said: At 14h40, Sunday, 18 January, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were alerted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) reporting a service motor vessel in Algoa Bay, 3 nautical miles offshore of Coega Harbour, with motor mechanical failure and requiring assistance
NSRI Gqeberha launched the NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian, accompanied by 100 liters of fresh water that the crew of the casualty motor vessel had requested to assist with their attempts to restart their motors.
On arrival on the scene the water was transferred onto the motor vessel where efforts to restart the casualty vessels motors were made, using the fresh water as a coolant, and although initially their motors were started motor failure occurred again.
NSRI took the vessel under tow, initially towing the vessel towards Coega Harbour, where we stood by outside of the harbour entrance waiting on authority to enter the harbour.
With Coega Harbour unable to immediately accept the motor vessel NSRI then towed the casualty vessel to the Port of Port Elizabeth and without incident, and with the vessel being able to start her motors once in Port, they were berthed at their moorings.
The operation was completed at 22h00.
Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said: At 17h40, NSRI Gqeberha was alerted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) confirming a request from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) of an urgent medical evacuation operation from a motor vessel tanker in Algoa Bay.
In communications with a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor it was deemed that the 53 year old male, from Georgia, suffering a medical complaint onboard the motor vessel tanker, required medical transfer to hospital.
The NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian was launched, accompanied by 2 EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics and by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew, and rendezvoused with the motor vessel tanker in Algoa Bay.
An NSRI MEX crewman and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the motor vessel where the patient was secured into personal protective gear and safety lines and he was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft.
In the care of the EMS rescue paramedics the patient was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition where he is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, TNPA Port Health, Police Sea Borderline Control, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and an EMS duty doctor, EC Government Health EMS, and the ship agent, assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the maritime medical evacuation operation.
The operation was completed at 22h16.
Simon Williams, NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander, said: Earlier, this past week, on Wednesday, 14 January, NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers were alerted to prepare for the medical evacuation at sea of a seafarer, suffering a medical complaint, onboard a bulk carrier motor vessel – expected in Algoa Bay on Thursday morning.
At 06h25, Thursday, 15 January, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic and by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew, and rendezvoused with the motor vessel tanker 13 nautical miles offshore.
An NSRI MEX crewman and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the motor vessel where the patient, a male age 40, from Myanmar, was secured into personal protective gear and safety lines and he was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft.
In the care of the EMS rescue paramedic the patient was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base and he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition where he is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, TNPA Port Health, Police Sea Borderline Control, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and an EMS duty doctor, EC Government Health EMS, and the ship agent, assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the maritime medical evacuation operation.
The operation was completed at 08h05.
