GQEBERHA:
Mike Wilson, NSRI Gqeberha coxswain, said:bOn Friday, 29 September, NSRI Gqeberha STATION 6 were activated to patient evacuate a 31 year old Ukrainian seaman from a motor vessel bulk carrier off-shore in Algoa Bay.
The patient was suffering a medical complaint.
NSRI Gqeberha duty crew, aboard the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha, rendezvoused with the motor vessel in 1 meter sea swells in Algoa Bay.
The sailor, in a stable condition, was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and brought to our NSRI rescue station in the Port of Port Elizabeth, in the care of the paramedics, where a Gardmed ambulance then transported the man to hospital for further care.
NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, SA Police Services – Sea Borderline Control, Gardmed ambulance services duty controllers, EC and WC Government Health EMS control and an EMS duty doctor, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.
The operation completed at 20h48.
DURBAN:
Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: On Friday evening, 29 September, NSRI Durban STATION 5 duty crew were placed on alert to prepare to launch, on Saturday morning, to meet a motor vessel bulk carrier, headed towards Durban from deep sea, to patient evacuate a 33 year old Indonesian seaman suffering a medical complaint.
At 07h00, Saturday, 30 September, NSRI Durban crew and Netcare 911 rescue paramedics prepared for the operation at the NSRI Durban rescue station.
The NSRI Durban rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched and we rendezvoused with the motor vessel 2 nautical miles off-ashore of the Port of Durban, in calm seas.
NSRI rescue swimmers and the Netcare 911 rescue paramedics boarded the vessel.
The patient, in a stable condition, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and brought to our NSRI rescue station in the care of the paramedics.
The patient was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance for further care.
NSRI Durban duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, SA Police Services – Sea Borderline Control, Netcare 911 duty controllers, WC Government Health EMS control and an EMS duty doctor, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.
The operation completed at 10h00.
KLEINMOND:
Marco Pretorius, NSRI Kleinmond deputy station commander, said: At 14h00, Sunday, 1 October, NSRI Kleinmond STATION 42 were activated following reports of a man on a kayak in difficulty at Kleinmond Main beach.
An NSRI rescue craft was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.
On arrival on the scene the kayaker, a local man, was found to have managed to reach the shore safely and he was not injured and he required no further assistance.
LANGEBAAN:
Nic Stevens, NSRI Mykonos station commander, said: At 16h27, Sunday, 1 October, NSRI Mykonos STATION 4 duty crew were activated to assist a 25 foot power boat with motor mechanical failure on Langebaan Lagoon.
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom and Spirit of Rotary East London were launched and without incident the casualty boat was towed to the Mykonos Marina and no further assistance was required.
The operation completed at 18h00.
HOUT BAY:
Carmen Long, NSRI Hout Bay deputy station commander, said: At 21h24, Sunday, 1 October, NSRI Hout Bay STATION 8 duty crew were activated following an eye-witness report suspecting a small boat or a man on a kayak to be in difficulty off-shore of Fish on the Rocks, Hout Bay.
The NSRI Hout Bay rescue craft Albie Matthews was launched while WC Government Health EMS ambulance and Life Healthcare response paramedics responded.
CoCT (City of Cape Town) Law Enforcement, the SA Police Services, Police Sea Borderline Control and SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services were alerted.
Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search in calm seas, including the deployment of white illuminating flares, and assisted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), Telkom Maritime Radio Services and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), no signs of anyone in any difficulties was located.
The eye-witness is commended for alerting NSRI to what may have been a false alarm with good intentions.
The operation was suspended at 23h30.
There remains no reports of anyone missing or overdue.

senior smurf
Van der Merwe is approached by SANRAL one day who want to build a new highway through his donkey farm. Van is really concerned with how his donkeys can get from one side of the farm to the other without having to cross the highway and risk being injured or killed. He is promised that they will build bridges the highway so that his donkeys can cross under the highway. Van agrees and gives them the go-ahead.
The highway is built and a year later the same rep goes to the farm to go see how Van and his donkeys are. He eventually finds Van under one of these bridges chipping away at the roof of the tunnel with a hammer and chisel.
\”Mnr Van de Merwe, what are you doing damaging the highway bridge?\”
Dahlia
Fun South African Fact: The meandering 850km road through Cape Winelands is the world’s longest wine route.