Twenty crew were safely rescued after their Sea Harvest fishing vessel caught alight while sailing offshore from Gansbaai in the Western Cape on Sunday.
According to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) the fire broke out on the 62-year-old MVF Armana while it was travelling around 60 nautical miles offshore from Gansbaai during the early hours of the morning.
Initial indications were that the vessel was sinking, but subsequent information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC), which is located at the Samsa Centre for Sea Watch and Response in Cape Town, indicated that the 20 crew had abandoned the fishing vessel due to the fire.
“Fortunately, all 20 crew members have been rescued, are confirmed unharmed, and are on their way back to Cape Town aboard the MFV Ludwani - another of the Sea Harvest Group’s vessels that was in the area at the time of the call,” Samsa said.
“The families of the rescued crew have been informed and the company is keeping them up to date accordingly.”
The MFV Armana is currently adrift 57 nautical miles south of Gansbaai, and being monitored by the MFV Harvest Saldanha.
“Samsa has instructed the owner to secure the services of a tug to tow the stricken vessel to a safe place of refuge and to appoint a salvor,” Samsa said.
