Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said: At 18h09, Friday, 29 May, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a 16 meter tug motor vessel reporting electrical motor mechanical failure with no motor power offshore of Cape Recife.
The Master of the vessel confirmed that their were a total of 7 crew onboard and reporting that they had deployed their anchor that was not holding. They were dragging anchor, adrift at 1 knot, not under command.
Our NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control were alerted.
Our duty crew responded to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base where we launched our rescue craft Bay Guardian.
We rendezvoused with the casualty vessel in the vicinity of Thunderbolt Reef, offshore of Cape Recife, finding the crew safe onboard but their vessel adrift with no motor power.
A towline was established, despite challenging conditions, the casualty vessels heavy weight of 30 tons, in reasonably unfavourable and sea conditions with a 2 meter sea swell, we towed the vessel to the Port of Port Elizabeth.
On arrival in Port we rafted our rescue craft alongside the casualty vessel bringing her safely to her moorings without incident.
Once safely moored no further assistance was required.
The operation was completed at 23h00.
