MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The NSRI Mossel Bay station was activated at 07:40 on Saturday, 6 June, after the skipper of a local 14 metre fishing vessel reporting a crewman of his boat missing, suspected to have fallen overboard.
A statement by André Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, noted that it appeared the vessel had departed from Mossel Bay harbour at about 19:00 on Friday and most of her crew had retired to their bunks to sleep while the fishing vessel headed towards fishing waters offshore of Plettenberg Bay.
On Saturday morning the alarm was raised after one of her fishermen, from Mossel Bay, who was believed to have boarded the vessel when she departed the evening before, could not be found on the fishing vessel and her crew suspected he may have fallen overboard during the night.
The fishing vessel was South of Robberg Nature Reserve at the time and had initiated a search, heading back towards Mossel Bay. NSRI Mossel Bay launched the sea rescue crafts Rescue 15 and St Blaize Rescuer to search a track line on the heading that the fishing trawler had been on during the night, on her heading towards Plettenberg Bay.
NSRI Knysna, NSRI Plettenberg Bay and NSRI Wilderness duty crews were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to join in the search and the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) initiated a search grid pattern and placed the SA Air Force on alert.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted in communications and an "all ships alert" was posted on the marine radio emergency frequency. NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) assisted with logistics.
NSRI Knysna launched its sea rescue craft Eileen Meadway, Jaytee 4 and Jolen and established a JOCC (Joint Operations Command Centre). NSRI Wilderness launched the sea rescue craft, Spirit of Rotary. NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched its sea rescue craft Leonard Smith and Ray Farnham and NSRI Plettenberg Bay crew boarded a private aircraft at Plettenberg Bay airport, volunteered by a local pilot and the aircraft joined in the search.
MRCC coordinated a SAAF 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter that was reportedly preparing to fly to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth to join the search on her way past the search area and the SAAF 22 squadron Oryx helicopter initiated a search on her arrival in the search area.
During land-based investigations it was determined by security personnel at Mossel Bay harbour that the missing fisherman had been seen at the harbour the night before but some security personnel suggested that the fisherman may not have boarded the fishing vessel. A phone call was made to the man's residence and much to everyone's surprise he was found to be at home and he had not boarded the fishing vessel and he was safe.
The NSRI commends the quick reaction to initiate a full scale search and rescue operation and no harm was done in this false alarm with good intentions, it stated.
Rescue resources returned to base and the fishing vessel crew, relieved after finding out that their colleague was safe at home, continued on to fishing grounds and all agree that the reaction of the skipper of the fishing vessel can be commended under the circumstances.
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