Miracle maritime rescue explained

MARITIME Lawyer, Andrew Pike, entertained guests at a fundraising breakfast of the Sailors Society with tale about the rescue attempts to save the passengers and crew on the ill-fated Oceanos.

Pike said on 4 August 1991 the rescue ship communicated with a guitarist on the bridge of the fast sinking Oceanos, who was unable to give them the actual position of the ship saying only that it was somewhere between East London and Durban. The whereabouts of the captain and some crew were also unknown.

Bringing the unbelievable tale to life for his audience, Pike said it had been the biggest case he had dealt with in his career.

Pike said most people had heard the story of the sinking of the Oceanos with 571 passengers and crew on board, none of whom suffered fatalities nor serious injury. At the time, it as left to the Tour Director and members of the entertainment group to get frightened passengers off the vessel into lifeboats and rescue helicopters.

Passengers and crew on the Oceanos suffered indescribable trauma. Many organisations played vital roles in the rescue – the SAAF, NSRI, Ports Authority among others. Passengers were airlifted from the ship which had been disabled and was sinking near Coffee Bay in the then Transkei and were taken to the Haven Hotel.

Andrew related the story of a two-week-old baby having been placed in a bucket and hoisted from the sinking ship onto a passing bulk carrier. Children had also been separated from their parents in the chaos of the resuce leaving parents frantic because they did not know where their children were.

The Port of Durban, where a crisis centre was set up, received vessels which had been contacted to rescue passengers. A captain on one of these ships reported 30m waves. Although trauma counselling was arranged at the time, it is ironic that the very work done by Crisis Response Network (CRN) which was established three years ago, would have been so appropriate then. Headed by Rev Van Schalkwyk, CRN co-ordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa, today this service focuses on trauma counselling of seafarers after suffering events such as piracy attacks, disasters at sea and also death and illness of their families back home when they are thousands of kilometres away.

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All were spellbound listening to Pike’s vibrant account of the disaster, sharing details they had either forgotten after having read reports or weren’t aware of. As a maritime lawyer, Pike’s job was to interview many role players regarding claims and other legal aspects which enabled him to share profound insights of the disaster.

There are always some humorous vignettes even in the face of tragedy. “I didn’t know so many people went on this voyage wearing Rolexes!” he said. Pike has written a book on the miracle rescue mission which he described as ” worthy of a Hollywood movie.”

“It was the greatest maritime rescue in history, in fact a miracle – a miracle where there were no fatalities or serious injuries,” he said.

Rev van Schalkwyk said the Sailors’ Society relied on donations without which its work would have to be curtailed. He said Pike’s contribution to the fundraising effort was high appreciated and would ensure the vital services offered continued.

Principal Chaplain Rev Boet van Schalkwyk introduced the work of the Society by means of a short video and a description of how the Sailors’ Society cares for seafarers ecumenically and materially. Seafarers are at sea for lengthy periods by the very nature of their work, away from families, also with limited time ashore. Others find themselves in the unfortunate position of their vessel being arrested resulting in lengthy times in ports without being able to go ashore. Here Chaplains ensure they have sufficient food and necessities on board.

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