4. Maritime Rescue Co-ordination

Transcription

1 4. Statistical Data on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Activities During this period Telkom handled the communications for a monthly average of eight Distress messages. These are mayday calls which denote an emergency involving imminent danger to a vessel and the people on board. Averages of six Urgency messages per month were logged. These are pan-pan messages which indicate that a vessel is in trouble but not in need of immediate assistance. An average of 71 navigational warnings were broadcast as part of the Maritime Safety Information (MSI) service. The Centre (MRCC) logged 21 hits from 406MHz distress beacons and 58 hits from 121.5MHz distress beacons. Out of an average of five emergency medical advice incidents per month, the MRCC co-ordinated an average of two medical evacuations that arose therefrom. The MRCC co-ordinated an average of 80 distress- related incidents per month (or almost 3 per day) during the review period. During the same period, the MRCC co-ordinated the recovery of a total of 25 bodies of persons who had died during accidents at sea. 43 persons were declared missing, most believed to have been trapped inside vessels at the time of accident. The MRCC was instrumental in the rescue of a total of 107 persons during this period. False Alerts averaged 20 per month (or 25% of reported incidents) with the majority being received in February and the least in August 2005 zero. Search and Rescue s of Note The following SAR incidents are considered most noteworthy of the 963 cases handled by the MRCC during the year 2005/ Apr 05 Passenger- liner SAGA ROSE requested assistance with a female passenger who had suffered a stroke. The vessel was linked to METRO doctor who advised that the passenger be evacuated soon as possible. A South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter airlifted the patient and her husband to Milnerton Medi-Clinic. 08 May 05 Collision between fishing vessel LINDSAY and tanker EURO DO BRASIL. The fishing vessel sank on the spot. The MRCC co-ordinated a search involving NSRI, eight other fishing vessels and a (SAAF) helicopter. Only two crewmen were rescued, whilst 14 others were unfortunatley lost. 16

2 23 May 05 Skipper of BEATRICE MARINE, informed the MRCC that a crew member has a 20cm gash above the right ear and a broken jaw. The crewman was losing and regaining consciousness. The MRCC linked the skipper to METRO doctor via Cape Town Radio and the doctor advised that the patient be evacuated. A CHC helicopter airlifted the patient safely to Milnerton Medi-Clinic. 07 Jun 05 The KIPEROUSA collided with an unknown object in the water South of East London and began taking in water. The vessel ended up running aground. The MRCC co-ordinated the incident with East London Port Control and NSRI Port Alfred. A helicopter from East London was called in for the evacuation of crew. Twenty-five crew members were safely evacuated to East London. 30 Jun 05 The ski-boat MOTTA capsized near Cape Point. The skipper was missing and CHC helicopters joined the search, together with NSRI Simonstown. Three survivors were picked up and the body of the skipper was found under the ski-boat and retrieved by South African Navy (SAN) divers. 18 Aug 05 Man Overboard and Medevac on Chinese Motor Vessel (M/V) HEBEI PROGRESS. A huge wave broke over the deck, washing one person overboard and critically injuring two others. A Kuswag 8 Dakota was used to search the area, without any success. Nine meter swells and 50 knot winds were experienced at the time. CHC Helicopters were used to evacuate the two injured crewmen. Hebei Shipping Company sent a letter of appreciation to the MRCC. 16 Sep 05 The yacht MOQUINI went missing during the Mauritius to Durban yacht race. The MRCC was alerted by Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) activation. Detection was a single hit with no position transmitted. Navy and other vessels took part in the search which lasted seven days. The MRCC co-ordinated a search operation in a km 2 area. An SAAF C 130 spent a total of 44 hrs in the search area with no positive results. 18 Sep 05 The MRCC received a late-night report that the trawler KATHLEEN LOUISE had capsized and was sinking off the West Coast. An emergency broadcast was made for vessels in the area to assist. Two nearby fishing 17

3 vessels responded immediately. NSRI Table Bay was also activated and launched rescue boats. A helicopter search was conducted the following day. Eight persons were rescued. The skipper of the vessel was missing and believed to have gone down with the vessel. 5 Oct 05 An EPIRB distress alert was detected from the Durban yacht NAUTI-GAL 280 miles off the Namibian coast. The MRCC put out a call for vessels in the area to investigate. The nearest ship, car-carrier TRISTAN, was 130 miles away and arrived on-scene after a 13 hour divert. The rescue was conducted in extremely rough seas. One yachtsman was saved and two lost. 17 Jan 06 A learner pilot crashed a helicopter into the sea at Buffel s Bay at Cape Point. The MRCC co-ordinated the SAR effort on request from the Aeronautical Rescue Centre (ARCC). Organisations involved in the operation included the Air Traffic Control (ATC), SAPS (Helicopter and Dive Units), SAN, SAAF, NSRI, SMIT AMANDLA and MCM. The search continued for two days. The pilot s body was found on the second day. Helicopter wreckage was recovered by SMIT AMANDLA. 24 Jan 06 An unlocated EPIRB distress beacon was detected by RCC Norfolk and assistance was requested from MRCC-SA. The name of the yacht was listed as BEN VIO. MRCC investigations establish that detection came from the SA yacht DEVONDALE BROADREACH which was taking part in the Cape-to-Bahia race. Owners had changed the name of yacht three times without informing authorities. False Alarm. The yacht came safely alongside in Brazil. The race safety committee/club surveyors were informed of the incorrect registration. 05 Feb 06 M/V ALGARVE found the missing yacht MOQUINI drifting capsized 500 miles off East London The MRCC co-ordinated the recovery of the vessel. Search aircraft were sent out to re-locate yacht. Fishing Vessel (F/V) TWO BOYS assisted by reporting the yacht s drift. The tug SMIT AMANDLA returned the vessel to Durban for SAMSA investigation. MRCC Maritime Assistance Service (MAS) Role The MRCC assists and monitors the safety of vessels in potentially dangerous situations as part of its MAS function. Situations include: - vessels temporarily drifting Not-Under-Command (i.e. without power), - vessels suffering steering gear failure, - towing operations, and - vessels posing pollution threats. On average, eight MAS situations per month were assisted 18

4 MAS s of Note 21 Mar 06 Yacht NAUTI FORTIES began experiencing problems while crossing the Atlantic from Brazil. The first difficulty experienced was a broken mast en-route to Tristan da Cunha. The MRCC was alerted by the owner in South Africa. After Tristan she was heading for Cape Town when she experienced engine failure. The skipper was unwilling to declare a distress as he did not want to abandon the yacht which he was delivering for the owner. MRCC monitored yacht s progress for 27 days and later arranged a tow with F/V EDINBURGH. The disabled yacht was towed into Cape Town on 17 April. 02 Sep 06 F/V PAULINE BRIDGET took in water approximatley 7 miles SE of Cape Point. SAS DRAKENSBERG responded and launched the ship s sea-boat with a pump to assist. PAULINE BRIDGET was towed safely to Kalk Bay. 14 September The agents for the tug JUPITER 6 contacted the MRCC concerning the loss of communication with the vessel. The vessel and the agents had been maintaining contact while towing the wreck, SATSANG, to Indian scrapyards. Contact had been lost while the vessel was 120 miles off Mossel Bay. The MRCC initiated safety-broadcasts and SATSANG was found nine (9) days later. The derelict hulk was drifting 250 miles South of Port Elizabeth. The tug s EPIRB was detected 13 days later at 135 miles South of Port Elizabeth. The MRCC enlisted the assistance of two merchant vessels and a SAAF Dakota to search for the missing tug. The search turned up no results besides an oil-slick and debris spotted in the approximate area. MRCC ISPS Role During the year under review reporting period the MRCC handled a monthly average of 1305 ISPS- related messages and received an average of 761 applications for ISPS clearance (Pre-Arrival Reports) per month. ISPS s of Note 5 November An American cruise liner SEABOURNE SPIRIT was attacked by pirates off Somalia. The Master activated the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS). The MRCC was alerted and assisted RCC Norfolk. The cruise liner managed to evade the pirates without serious injury. 19

5 13 November Two GREENPEACE vessels visited Cape Town. ARCTIC SUNRISE and ESPERANZA requested exemption from International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) ISPS regulations, citing their registration as yachts under the Dutch flag. Exemption was denied by SAMSA on the grounds that the vessels were not being operated as pleasure vessels. General MRCC Events Exercise Oxide A major SAR exercise was held. The South African and Reunion MRCCs jointly co-ordinated a search involving South African and French military forces in the Durban and Cape Town areas during March and May. Exercise Cyclone In June the MRCC hosted a large-scale exercise involving the Western Cape NSRI stations. SAAF and civilian helicopter units were involved in mock rescues. Workshops A SASAR workshop with NPA Harbour Masters was held in March 2006, and a Bilateral Workshop was held in Pretoria in May Conferences/ Overseas Visits The Head of MRCC attended: - The Cospas-Sarsat Joint Committee Meeting in London June 2005, - A SASAR Joint Bi-lateral Meeting in Namibia August 2005, - The Cospas-Sarsat Council Meeting in Canada November 2005, and - IMO COMSAR in London March MRCC SMC visited MRCC-Reunion as part of the bi-lateral exchange programme in March Sub-Regional MRCC Preparations have begun for the MRCC s activation as Sub-Regional MRCC. 20