Shipwreck - Grounded

Posted by Graham Russon (Cape Town, South Africa) on 4 August 2008 in Transportation and Portfolio.

Our coastline can be pretty treacherous especially in winter, and is known as the Cape of Storms. On Thursday 2 fishing trawlers had first hand experience of this.

There was a big storm with winds up to 30 knots and 6m high swells. The first trawler Weskus1 radioed that rope had fouled its propeller.
A fishing trawler, Seawin Sapphire, which happened to be in the area at the time, tried to help.

While Seawin was attempting to assist Weskus 1, she reported to Maritime Authorities to have hit a reef and sustained damaged to her propeller.

Both vessells were about 700m from the shore. The captains declared an emergency and rescue vehicles were sent out. The boats ran aground near Melkbos Strand. All 20 crew members from both boats were rescued safely with only a few cases of mild hypothermia.

It was reported that local police had waded into the surf fully clothed, to help bring the crew ashore.

I went up on Saturday and found half of Cape Town watching the salvage efforts. Next couple of shots will be of this exciting drama on our doorstep.

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