By Anele Siwa
05 June 2008
On Wednesday morning the 52 foot Chokka fishing Boat Ichabo, sailing from St Francis Bay to Gansbaai with 2 crew on-board was reported experiencing difficulties 18 nautical miles off-shore of the Tsitsikama coast and approximately 40 nautical miles North East of Plettenberg Bay and 40 nautical miles South East of St Francis Bay.
“When our rescue craft arrived in the area the crew aboard the casualty craft set off a red distress flare to mark their position and on arrival of the rescue craft the vessel was found to be listing approximately 45 degrees and appears to be heavy laden with water suspected to be from a leak in the hull which cannot be confirmed at this stage.
According Lambinon NSRI Plettenberg Bay launched rescue craft Ian Hepburn and NSRI St Francis Bay launched rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II.
“The two crewmen, Pieter and Johan du Preez, from Uitenhage, were using water extrication pumps to bail water out the vessel but according to their initial indications the vessel was filling with water faster than they could bail water and both men were immediately taken off the vessel onto our NSRI rescue craft Ian Hepburn,”.
Lambinon says the vessels owners are looking into possibilities of saving the boat when the weather conditions calm.
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