Three sailors lost their lives following the capsizing of a lifeboat near the shores of South Africa, and two others are missing. This incident occurred on September 30 during a safety operation by the emergency tugboat Umkhuseli.
Details of the Incident
The incident took place about 47 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay while attempting to rescue a crew member who had fallen overboard while working on deck. Four crew members launched a fast rescue boat from the Umkhuseli to save that sailor, but the lifeboat capsized quickly, and all five individuals ended up in the water.
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According to reports, three employees of AMSOL were recovered on Wednesday, and their deaths were confirmed. Two others remained missing until Thursday. The tugboat Inkanyezi remained on site to continue search and rescue operations.
Consequences of the Incident
The CEO of AMSOL, Den Ngakane, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of three of his colleagues, stating that the company is in direct contact with the families of all five sailors and is providing necessary support. All individuals involved in this incident were employees of AMSOL; one from Durban and four others from Cape Town.
Internal and external investigations have begun, and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has initiated a preliminary investigation into the incident. The Umkhuseli operates as a tugboat and emergency response vessel jointly with the South African Department of Transport and SAMSA and is continuously ready for rescue operations, environmental protection, and other maritime missions.
This vessel has participated in several emergency operations along the South African coast this year, including assisting commercial ships that encountered problems in Algoa Bay, Port Alfred, and Cape Town. The September 30 incident occurred near an offshore platform, and officials have not yet announced the cause of the lifeboat's capsizing.
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