The NSRI Agulhas duty crew had to rush to the rescue of two boats that had collided off the coast of Struisbaai last weekend.
Reinard Geldenhuys, NSRI Agulhas coxswain, reported that the crew had been activated at about 07:00 on Saturday 25 January after reports of a collision between the two local boats at the 5 Mile Bank.
“A Mayday distress call had been intercepted, on Marine Channel 16 VHF radio emergency frequency, by a local radio operator. The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Agulhas was launched and we rendezvoused with the two local boats five nautical miles east of Struisbaai.”
On their arrival the NSRI crew found all 10 crew members – four on the one vessel and six on the second – were accounted for and safe. The boat with six crew members, however, had sustained serious damage during the collision. As a result the boat was taking on water and didn’t have any power.
“The NSRI duty crew towed the damaged vessel to Struisbaai Harbour,” Geldenhuys stated. “Once safely in the harbour, we helped the crew get their craft onto its trailer. The second vessel with four crew members on board had sustained damage but was limping slowly towards Struisbaai harbour.
“The second vessel arrived in Struisbaai harbour without incident. The cause of the collision is being investigated.”
