Andre Fletcher, NSRI Durban deputy station commander, said; “At 21h21, Saturday, 13th February, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from the 36 foot Catamaran Galileo, South of Durban, with two male crew, the skipper, from Hermanus, and his crewman, from Vilanculos, Mozambique, reporting to be struggling against the weather on a storm sail and with motor mechanical and battery power failure and not making any progress.
Their last Port of call was Bazaruto, Mozambique.
Our Durban sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer II was launched and with communications assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services at 01h30 we rendezvoused with the casualty Catamaran 28 nautical miles South of Durban, in the vicinity of Aliwal Shoal, finding both crewmen safe but battling against up to 15 knot North Easterly winds, a 2 meter swell in a heavy thunder and lightning storm.
A towline was rigged and through the severe lightning and thunder storm we towed the casualty Catamaran to the Port of Durban, without incident, arriving safely at 08h00 on Sunday, 14th February, and by 09h00 the casualty Catamaran was safely berthed and they required no further assistance.”
