YONG JI LI

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Harvest Rising involved in large scale SAR operation

On Sep 27, 2015, the "Harvest Rising" was involved in the SAR operation for the 42-m-fishing Trawler "Lincoln", 414 gt (IMO: 5062833), owned by the Viking Fishing Group from Cape Town, which was swamped by high swells, which tore off deck Equipment, and taking on water in heavy sea swells 20 nautical miles south of Hangklip with a crew of 21 onboard at 6 p.m. The NSRI Hermanus launched the lifeboat "South Star", the NSRI Simonstown the "Spirit of Safmarine III", an SA Air Force 22 Squadron Lynx helicopter responded, carrying an NSRI ASR rescue swimmer on board, as well as the bulkcarrier on its way from Las Palmas to Durban and the fishing trawlers "Fuksia", "Armana" and "African Queen". On arrival on the scene it was confirmed that all 21 crew of the trawler had abandoned their vessel. A search was initiated by the cargo vessel and by the fishing vessels that had responded to the scene and was joined by the lifeboats "South Star", "Spirit of Safmarine III" and the SA Air Force Lynx helicopter. Nine survivors were rescued and nine bodies were recovered from the water. It was later confirmed that one of the survivors who had been rescued had succumbed to injuries and died. Sea conditions were six meter swells with the wind gusting to 45 knot South Easterly. Sea conditions improved during the search and rescue operation. Four fishing vessels were looking for the missing men. The bodies of two missing fishermen were found, but as the bodies were being recovered, two slipped out of their lifejackets into the ocean. The search was on for a third fisherman. Despite the extensive air and sea search coordinated by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) no sign of the three missing crew have been found, and the search was continuing. Radio communications were being assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services. The "Lincoln" was boarded by engineers, and in rough seas it was being towed to Cape Town by a sister ship. It suffered external damage but was otherwise stable. Some bodiesx have been taken ashore at Hermanus and Simon's Town, while two bodies were still aboard vessels at sea. The survivors have been brought to shore. They have been assessed by paramedics and they were in the care of police trauma counsellors and the fishing company were attending to the families of their deceased colleagues and to the families of the missing fishermen. On Sep 29 a total of four fishing vessels was engaged in an ongoing search operation for the missing fishermen. Two I&J fishing vessels and two Viking Fishing Company vessels were searching the area 20 nautical miles south of Hangklip. The Air Force helicopter has withdrawn from the search. The "Lincoln" continues to be towed towards Cape Town, and efforts continued to be focused to attempting to get the vessel to the port of Table Bay. Report with photos: