Cape Town - In a dramatic rescue, 20 seafarers were safely evacuated and brought to shore after a fire broke out on a Sea Harvest trawler off the coast of Gansbaai.
The incident on Sunday follows the tragic loss of another Sea Harvest vessel earlier this year, raising concerns about maritime safety and prompting calls for thorough inspections of commercial fishing vessels.
The SA Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported the trawler, MVF Armana, part of Sea Harvest’s Viking Fishing Division, was about 60 nautical miles off the coast of Gansbaai when it caught alight.
SAMSA said: “Initially, it seemed like the vessel was sinking, but later updates from the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre in Cape Town confirmed that the crew had to abandon ship due to the fire. Luckily, all 20 crew members were rescued and were reunited with their families in Cape Town.”
SAMSA said the MFV Armana is currently adrift, 57 nautical miles south of Gansbaai, and is being monitored by the MFV Harvest Saldanha.
They have also instructed the owner to arrange for a tugboat to tow the damaged vessel to safety and to hire a salvor.
Madoda Khumalo, a corporate executive at Sea Harvest, confirmed the crew was safely rescued by the MFV Ludwani, another Sea Harvest vessel that was nearby.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. However, we are thankful that the crew managed to get off the vessel and that they have been reunited with their families.
“Each crew member was examined by a medical practitioner and has been offered counselling support,” said Khumalo.
In May, Sea Harvest’s MFV Lepanto capsized and sank near Hout Bay, leading the Western Cape High Court to declare 11 missing crew members as presumed dead.
The vessel went down about 34 nautical miles off the coast, leaving families in a state of uncertainty and grief.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) has voiced their concerns following Sunday’s incident. Malvern de Bruyn, provincial secretary for Cosatu, said they planned to meet with the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment to discuss the issues surrounding Sea Harvest.
“Sea Harvest is becoming a major problem for Cosatu, and we need to address it,” he said.
De Bruyn also noted that the federation supports Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's call for safety inspections of all commercial fishing vessels operating in South African waters.
“Any attempt that can prevent any problems or accidents on the sea, we welcome that.
“We welcome the decision by the minister for making that request,” he said.