By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The search continues for 11 fishermen who are missing at sea, after their commercial fishing trawler sank 34 nautical miles (nearly 63km) off the coast of Hout Bay, Cape Town on Friday.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said a distress call was made on Friday at 3.30pm and five fishing vessels went searching for the men and managed to locate nine men in a life raft.
He said the fishing vessel was carrying 20 men in total.
“The nine survivors are not injured and they were brought to the Port of Table Bay aboard a fellow fishing vessel during the night. They are in the care of their fishing company, “he added.
Lambinon said different organisations, including South African Police Service (SAPS), Police Sea Borderline Control, SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services, and the City of Cape Town, among others, have been notified about the incident.
Lifeboats from Hout Bay and Table Bay on the Cape, along with helicopters and planes from private Cape Town operator Aerios Global were launched.
But an air and sea search has yet to find the eleven missing crewmen.
The MRCC Cape Town is however coordinating the search and rescue operation.
“All involved parties are working diligently at searching for the missing crew,” he added.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy expressed her shock and sadness after the tragedy.
“At this stage what we know is that nine crew members managed to launch an emergency vessel and they were picked up by a passing ship and we are very grateful that those nine crew members were rescued.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing fishermen and their families as we await news of the search and rescue operation,” said Creecy.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said that his office had reached out to offer support to help search for the missing fishermen.
Winde said, “I was incredibly grateful to hear that nine crew members were successfully rescued. I am keeping both the rescue teams and those still missing in my thoughts. I am also thinking of the families and the loved ones of those who are missing.”