Little hope for missing sailors

Experts say there is little hope that the 26 sailors who are missing in the sea some 300 nautical miles off the East London coast will survive their ordeal. They are believed to be in the water with just life saving vests on and hypothermia would have begun to set in by now. Five empty life rafts have been spotted from the air. The crew of the bulk carrier Alexandros T had to abandon ship on Wednesday when the vessel began sinking after breaking up. Seven of the crew were rescued by other vessels in the area. Two bulk carriers and the salvage tug Smit Amandla are involved in the search for the men. An Air Force C-130 will again search the area from first light today. Spokesperson for the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Mark Steed said the great distance from shore makes it impossible for helicopters to assist in the rescue attempt.

Meanwhile, the NSRI has been involved in another rescue off East London after being asked to assist a crewman who had suffered injuries in a fall on the bulk tanker Eletheria. NSRI Commander Geoff McGregor said the vessel was sailing seven nautical miles off East London in four metre swells and a 20 knot westerly wind. The injured seaman was successfully transferred to hospital by the crew of the rescue craft ACSA Rescuer One.