Cape town NSRI are being asked to go all out for search for those 11 fishermen.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is leading the search effort for 11 fishermen who vanished after their fishing trawler sank off Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard on Friday afternoon.
According to NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon, a distress call was received at 3.30pm on Friday, prompting five fishing vessels to initiate a search. Nine men were located in a life raft, unharmed, out of the total 20 aboard the vessel.
“The nine survivors are safe and were transported to the Port of Table Bay by another fishing vessel overnight. They are under the care of their fishing company,” Lambinon stated.
Various agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Police Sea Borderline Control, SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services, and the City of Cape Town, have been alerted to the incident. Three NSRI rescue crafts have joined the extensive search, battling challenging sea conditions.
“Despite concerted air and sea efforts, there are still no signs of the missing fishermen, and the search continues,” Lambinon remarked.
The cause of the vessel’s sinking remains uncertain, adding to the distress of the families and the fishing company involved.
“Our thoughts are with the fishermen’s families and the fishing company during this trying time,” Lambinon concluded.
