Eighteen Filipino seafarers have been rescued off the Cape West Coast after abandoning their severely listing Panama registered general cargo vessel.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) said in a statement that the seafarers were found in a life raft after they abandoned the MV Ultra Galaxy, about 60 nautical miles from Doringbaai in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday.
The life raft was detected at about 3am, prompting an immediate response.
“With a May Day immediately broadcast to other vessels in the vicinity soon thereafter, three ships closest to the casualty vessel, the MV Fivos, MV Rio Grande Express and a fishing vessel, the FV Malachite were diverted for assistance,” Samsa said.
Weather conditions at the time were reportedly characterised by winds of up to 12 knots per hour, with a swell of up to between five and six metres.
Samsa said the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Cape Town dispatched two nearby cargo vessels to the location of the alert, to investigate the situation.
The rescue vessels successfully located the life raft in the water and confirmed that there were 18 seafarers on-board.
“We are relieved to report that all crew members have been accounted for,” Samsa said.
Samsa said a coordinated operation ensued and the crew safely boarded the FV Malachite and were taken to St Helena Bay.
The MV Ultra Galaxy, previously known as Thor Galaxy and Thorco Galaxy, is a 124,56 metre-long general cargo vessel built in 2008.
At the time of its distress call early on Monday, it was reportedly en route to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
According to Samsa, with the crew successfully rescued and its safety assured, attention is now being devoted fully to salvaging the vessel.
The crew were anticipated to reach shore at about 5am on Tuesday.
Samsa said a set of emergency towing vessels were being organised to render assistance to the listing vessel.
