Four fishermen rescued out of heavy fog at sea

FOUR fishermen were rescued after being stuck at sea due to dense fog in Lamberts Bay and St Helena Bay at the weekend.

NSRI Lamberts Bay station commander Avril Mocke said its crew maintained cellphone contact with the fishermen as rescue teams went out to find them.

“As night fell and after no sign of the fishing boat could be found, our NSRI rescue vehicle mustered at strategic points along the coastline, and used the sea rescue vehicle siren blaring in an effort to establish if the fishermen could at least hear the siren blaring. They were instructed to stay at anchor where they were and begin sounding their foghorn, which they did.”

She said the fishermen did not require any further assistance once on shore, and were greeted by a large crowd of family members.

Meanwhile, Mykonos station commander Mike Shaw said the families of two fishermen, from Paternoster, reported to them after the men failed to return home.

Shaw said dense fog could have resulted in the fishermen being disoriented and unable to return to shore. “The fishermen were not reached by cellphone, and the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre was notified of the search and MRCC and our NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) monitored the search-and-rescue operation and assisted with co-ordination.

“NSRI continued searching until approximately midnight when our sea rescue craft were withdrawn from the search area to refuel, and MRCC was requested to investigate airborne resources to be placed on alert.”

Shaw said at daybreak, the fishermen were seen by another vessel and the NSRI was notified.