A massive search operation was launched this week to search for a missing Cape Town yachtsman.
This comes after a yacht was located by a oil/chemical tanker with a 57-year-old Capetonian onboard on Tuesday, October 3 at about 13:00.
His brother, age 54, also from Cape Town, had reportedly gone overboard near Port St Johns in the early hours of the morning in rough seas after waves swept over the yacht in deep seas.
He was declared missing at sea.
Craig Lambinon of National Sea Rescue Institute said the yacht showed signs of damage and remains adrift at sea.
A search revealed no signs of the missing man.
The survivor was brought to Durban aboard the tanker where an investigation has been launched by the SA Police Services and South African Maritime Safety Authority.
“The captain and crew of the oil/chemical tanker are commended for their assistance,” said Lambinon.
The family of the missing man arranged a fixed wing aircraft to conduct a search yesterday (Wednesday) while a number of vessels, including fishing vessels and commercial vessels, searched an extensive area off-shore of Port St Johns.
Rescue swimmers from Shelly Beach Airborne Sea Rescue accompanied one of the aircrafts.
A private helicopter searched along the shoreline of the Eastern Cape.
NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was alerted by Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of an emergency position indicating radio beacon activation about 30 nautical miles off-shore of Port St Johns.
NSRI Port St Johns was placed on alert while Telkom Maritime Radio Services broadcast an all ships alert.
Four ships at sea diverted to a search area and searched in an operation coordinated by MRCC.
NSRI Durban, NSRI East London and NSRI Port Edward were placed on alert.
NSRI EOC and NSRI operations assisted MRCC with search grid patterns.
Despite an extensive air and sea search there remains no signs of the missing man.
Lambinon said that NSRI commends everyone that has and is assisting in the search.
“NSRI commends Telkom Maritime Radio Services for extensive efforts assisting in communications during search efforts.”
“The family has respectfully requested privacy at this time. Our thoughts are with family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time,” said Lambinon.
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