Crew missing as vessel sinks off Mossel Bay

Rescue operation underway

SOUTH AFRICA: Only 13 members of an 18 crew have been accounted for following an incident involving the offshore supply vessel, Leo, that transmitted a mayday last night.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town is coordinating a search and rescue (SAR) operation approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay for the remaining five crew members.

To date, 13 crew members have been accounted for, consisting of 12 survivors, and 1 presumed deceased. Search operations continue for the five remaining missing crew members.

The crew abandoned ship into four life‑rafts before the tug sank in the early hours of this morning. The vessel issued a distress call just after 7pm last night reporting the uncontrolled take on of water and requesting immediate assistance.

Two merchant vessels and one local fishing vessel remain in the vicinity and continue to assist with search operations. A helicopter has also been deployed to provide aerial support across the search area.

Prevailing weather conditions in the area remain adverse; however, all available resources continue to be utilised to locate the missing crew.

An Incident Management System (IMS) structure has been activated to support and coordinate the ongoing response effort, ensuring alignment between MRCC, on‑scene resources, and relevant authorities.

According to tracking information from Marine Traffic, the Comoros flagged tug was on route from Durban with a reported destination of LOS NGA. She was built in 1991.

The vessel is likely the previously named GMTS Tracker 01 that was involved in a case of crew abandonment in Durban in 2023. Crew members were eventually repatriated in 2024 and only received payment of outstanding wages after leaving the vessel.

PHOTO: Adobe Photostock licence

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