Dramatic high sea rescue after ship fire
The abandoned Taiwanese fishing vessel remains adrift off the coast of Durban.
A DRAMATIC sea rescue played out off the coast of Durban on Tuesday as two people were airlifted to hospital after a fire on a Taiwanese vehicle. It appears the fishing vessel, Hsiang Fuh No. 6 was ablaze on Sunday, some 400 nautical miles (640 kilometres) off-shore East of the South African coastline.
The NSRI Durban duty crew and NSRI ASR (Air Sea Rescue) were alerted following a request by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to provide paramedics and Air Sea Rescue crew to an SA Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter tasked to respond to airlift two inujured.
“The injured survivor was reported to be suffering from burns sustained during the fire on the fishing vessel and heading towards the Port of Durban. A 294 meter container ship Ever Diadem had reportedly witnessed the burning vessel and diverted to assist while raising the alarm. Thirty survivors had abandoned ship onto two lifeboats and 14 of the survivors were taken on-board the SBI Antares and 16 of the survivors were taken on-board the Ever Diadem and they were being brought to the Port of Durban aboard the 2 ships.
“NSRI medics and the Netcare 911 rescue paramedic were transferred onto the ship and the injured sailor was treated for severe burns, suffering approximately 40 per cent second and third degree burns, and he was stabilised and a second patient, a 63 year old Chinese survivor, was treated for soft tissue injuries to his right knee,” the NSRI said in a statement.
Both ships, with all remaining 28 survivors of the Taiwanese trawler, who were not injured, remain at anchorage off-shore of the Port of Durban and the two ships are waiting for permission from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to enter Port where once safely berthed the survivors will disembark into the care of authorities.
Telkom Maritime Radio Services are broadcasting an all ships alert warning ships at sea of the abandoned fishing vessel that remains adrift.
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