Fishing boat sinks, all 4 crew accounted for and safely rescued in Richards Bay
The life raft was recovered onto Spirit of Richards Bay and the 4 casualty crew remained on Spirit of Round Table II
At 21h45, Saturday, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) following a Mayday distress call to Telkom Maritime Radio Services of what was suspected to be a yacht taking water and sinking in the shipping lanes off-shore of Richards Bay with 4 crew abandoning ship into a life-raft, 8.5 nautical miles off-shore of Amatikulu Bluff.
The sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table II was launched, while responding to the scene Telkom Maritime Radio Services confirmed that it was the fishing vessel C-Link and not a yacht in distress, and on arrival on the scene the casualty crew, in a life-raft, shot off red distress flares and they were located by NSRI and it was confirmed to be a fishing vessel taking water and semi submerged and all 4 male crew had abandoned ship and were safe in a life-raft and they were rescued onto the sea rescue craft.
The sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay was launched and on arrival on the scene efforts to tow the semi-submerged fishing vessel out of the shipping lanes was investigated but sadly the fishing vessel sunk.
The life raft was recovered onto Spirit of Richards Bay and the 4 casualty crew remained on Spirit of Round Table II.
They were brought to the NSRI Richards Bay base and required no further assistance.
The operation was completed in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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