Sea Of Fire Horror: 21 Fishermen Saved As Trawler Burns Off Gqeberha Coast

A dramatic nighttime rescue unfolded off the coast of Noordhoek, Gqeberha, after an SOS call led to 21 fishermen being pulled to safety from a burning trawler on Monday evening.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) confirmed that the local fishing vessel Silver Dorado caught fire while at sea, forcing the entire crew to abandon ship.

Mayday Call Sparks Multi-Vessel Sea Rescue

NSRI Gqeberha station commander Mark Dawson said the alarm was raised at 5.52pm when a member of the public contacted emergency services via the 112 national emergency number.

As NSRI crews were mobilised, Telkom maritime radio services and vessels operating in the area intercepted a mayday distress call from the Silver Dorado, reporting a fire onboard and that all 21 crew members were preparing to abandon the vessel.

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Telkom maritime radio services immediately issued an all-ships alert, urging vessels nearby to divert and assist.

Fishing Vessels Rush In as Crew Jump into Sea

A local fishing vessel, Leguga, was first on the scene and launched its own life raft to assist fishermen who had entered the water near the burning trawler.

Several other vessels responded to the distress call. At that stage, Legugu had recovered 12 fishermen from its life raft and from the sea. The fishing vessels Raka and Maverick each rescued four fishermen, while Vulcan rescued one.

Fishermen Escape Without Injury as Fire Spreads Rapidly

Dawson said the skipper of the trawler discovered the fire onboard after the vessel had left port earlier the same day.

“The crew were in bunks resting in preparation of reaching fishing grounds when the fire was discovered,” he said.

The blaze spread rapidly, leaving no time for the crew to launch their own life raft. The skipper, however, managed to transmit a mayday distress call before abandoning ship.

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NSRI rescue craft later arrived and transferred the rescued fishermen from the assisting vessels to the NSRI rescue base. Paramedics examined all 21 crew members, who are South African nationals, and confirmed that none required medical treatment.

The cause of the fire will be investigated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority and police. The trawler has since drifted towards a reef near Cape Recife. The vessel’s owners have appointed a salvage and spill response company.

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