Heavy ocean swells and winds notwithstanding, the South African Air Force rose to the occasion last Thursday (July 23) to rescue the entire complement of the listing bulk carrier, Ioannis NK, only two hours before she went down in 400 metres of water off the Cape West Coast. Built in 1977 and carrying 22 500 tons of sugar and 22 tons of fuel oil, the 23 791 dwt Panamaregistered, Greek-owned, vessel was en route from Brazil to India when her master sent an early morning distress call to the Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre to report his vessel was taking on water and listing. This scrambled Smit to dispatch its powerful deep sea salvage tug, Smit Amandla, a team of four NSRI surface swimmers on board, and two air force Oryx helicopter, to find the vessel listing 45 degrees. She later sank, more than 150 nautical miles off Cape Town. Smit communications spokesperson, Claire Gomes, says the cause of the sinking has yet to be assessed but structural damage may have been at the heart of the disaster, with salvage unlikely.
