two ships collide just off PE's coastline

[raytheon_aircraft]

apparently two ships collided just outside Sardinia bay, one of PE's beaches. search and rescue was deployed but 15 people are still missing. i was wondering if anyone may know anything about the search and rescue services and what exactly happened. :uhoh:

[Gunship]

A little bit more info here but not too much.

Air and Sea Rescue going on .. :sad:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw111554712186B262

From News 24 : Full details

Johannesburg - At least 14 people have gone missing after a fishing trawler collided with a container vessel and sunk off Port Elizabeth early on Sunday.

Ian Gray, the National Sea Rescue Institute\'s Port Elizabeth station commander, said they were alerted to the collision about 01:39 on Sunday.

The collision took place about 9.5 nautical miles off Sardinia Bay, about 10 nautical miles (by road) from Port Elizabeth.

Gray said: "It appears the 178m reefer Euro da Brazil, sailing from Singapore to Brazil, collided broadside on the port side of the 30m chokka fishing vessel Lindsay.

The Lindsay, with 17 crew on board, sank shortly afterwards.

Two people were rescued and taken to a Port Elizabeth hospital.

An extensive air and sea rescue, involving 12 craft, was launched for the rest of the crew.

Gray said the crews of two NSRI boats and two air force helicopters were searching the area since first light. Private boats, fishing vessels and others ships in the area were also alerted to the missing crew.

Preparing to drop anchor

Gray said: "Metro rescue and ambulance services, Port Elizabeth fire and rescue services, police services and Netcare 911 ambulance services have been activated and are assisting."

A joint operations control centre was established at the NSRI base in Port Elizabeth.

"The immediate search area plotted spans approximately 21 square nautical miles. "

"Port Elizabeth port control has fixed-wing aircraft on stand-by to assist, including a twin-engine light aircraft belonging to John English of Progress air school."

Hospitals in Port Elizabeth have been placed on stand-by.

Gray said: "According to information obtained from the skipper of the sunken vessel they were preparing to drop anchor when the collision took place.

"A crewman was rescued shortly after the collision by the Euro de Brazil, and he is in a satisfactory condition."

The skipper of Lindsay was rescued by the fishing vessel Lincoln about 02:40. He was suffering from suspected rib fractures, breathing difficulty and suspected inhalation and ingestion of diesel and diesel fumes. Both were in shock and were treated by NSRI medics.

Crew were asleep

Gray said: "It is understood that most (or all) of the remaining crew (15 men) were asleep in forward compartments when the accident occurred. The vessel sank about 20 seconds after impact."

Swells were up to five metres and a southwesterly wind was expected to reach 20 knots.

He said: "There is a wide and long debris field and all four of Lindsay\'s life-rafts have been found as well as life-jackets (unused) and flotsam and debris have been located by rescuers. By 06:40 there was still no sign of any of the missing crew."

Very sad news !! :sad:

[Gunship]

Eischhh the search was called of earlier - so it seems like there was obviously no chance of a recovery.

What SAAF helo's are lately in PE ?

Oryx and BK117's ?

Search and rescue attempts for 14 fishermen presumed drowned off the coast of Port Elizabeth were called off on Sunday afternoon, the National Sea Rescue Institute said.

Earlier in the day the skipper of the 30m chokka fishing vessel and a crewman were rescued.

Twelve different vessels had combed the area several times since the fishermen's vessel sank quickly after a collision with a container ship around 1.30am.

Most of the crew were in the accommodation section at the time of the accident.

NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander Ian Gray said that according to information from the skipper of the sunken vessel, they were preparing to drop anchor when the collision occurred. The vessel sunk about 20 seconds after impact.

Gray said the accident occurred about 9.5 nautical miles off Sardinia Bay.

"It appears that the 178m reefer [refrigerated container vessel] Euro da Brazil sailing from Singapore to Brazil, collided broadside on the port side of the... chokka fishing vessel Lindsay and Lindsay sunk shortly thereafter," he said.

The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and Cape Town Radio were activated to assist with communications, planning and co-ordination of the search and rescue operation.

Twelve craft were involved in the operation at sea and SA Air Force helicopters conducted a search by air. The crewman was rescued by the Euro de Brazil shortly after the incident and was in a satisfactory condition.

The skipper was rescued by the fishing vessel Lincoln around 2.40am and had fractured ribs, breathing difficulties and suspected inhalation and ingestion of diesel and diesel fumes.

He was being treated in the Port Elizabeth Afrox Private Hospital.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the damaged Euro da Brazil had since docked at Port Elizabeth.

Investigations into the accident would be conducted by the relevant authorities including the SA Maritime Service and the police. - Sapa