Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said: On Thursday, 24 August, at 13h02, NSRI Richard’s Bay duty crew were alerted following a request for assistance from a local sailing vessel, on her maiden voyage and returning towards Richards Bay, with 4 crew onboard, reporting the vessel suffering steering and motor mechanical failure, at the time off-shore of St Lucia, and making slow progress under sail towards Richards Bay.
NSRI St Lucia were placed on alert.
NSRI Richards Bay duty controllers, assisted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) and Telkom Maritime Radio Services monitored the progress of the sailing vessel whose crew were in no immediate imminent danger.
It was decided at 20h00 that NSRI Richards Bay duty crew would activate to launch a rescue craft and head towards a rendezvous with the sailing vessel with her crew reporting their vessel to no longer be under command and adrift.
The NSRI Richards Bay rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched at 20h00 and rendezvoused with the casualty vessel 7 nautical miles North of Richards Bay where on reaching the vessel, and finding her crew to be safe, a towline was established and without incident the vessel was towed safely to the Port of Richards Bay and moored safely at the Zululand Yacht Club.
NSRI commend the cooperation of the sailing casualty vessel crew and maritime authorities in this operation that was completed at 22h30.
carrot joker
Thanks for this post – I have had a great time visiting your site and find myself now wanting to physically visit South Africa. Well Done!
Speedwell
Fun South African Fact: Table Mountain in Cape Town is believed to be one of the oldest mountains in the world and one of the planet’s 12 main energy centres, radiating magnetic, electric or spiritual energy.