Recovery operation continues for missing seafarers

AMSOL charters private aircraft to search for missing crew members

SOUTH AFRICA: Although official search and recovery operations have been called off by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the owners of the Umkhuseli, African Marine Solutions (AMSOL), have chartered a private aircraft to assist with ongoing efforts to recover the missing crew members.

The aircraft is being supported by another AMSOL vessel, the Inkanyezi, whose crew are conducting a structured patrol in the hope of locating the two remaining crew members who were involved in the incident on Wednesday.

The bodies of Akhona Mlaba (Second Officer), Simphiwe Simayi (Fourth Engineer) and Ditaba Leoto (Able Seafarer) have been recovered, while the search for Zolile Milbaziso (Oiler) and Sibonile Qalani (Able Seafarer) continues.

Support has been provided to the families of the three deceased seafarers, who travelled to undertake formal identifications. The families of the two missing seafarers are also receiving ongoing support and updates on the operation.

Some debris was spotted by the fixed-wing aircraft during a fly-over earlier today, as well as by two vessels in the vicinity. The team is using this information alongside calculated drift patterns to establish a search grid for the Inkanyezi.

With changes in weather patterns over the past day, information from the weather service has been useful for tracking the position of anything that is spotted and identified. The aircraft is due to undertake a second flight before nightfall, after refuelling in George, and will also use this information.

The Umkhuseli’s crew currently remain on board and will be interviewed by both SAMSA and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The vessel is in the bay awaiting favourable conditions to enter the Port of Mossel Bay, where the crew will be relieved.

A full crew complement will need to be deployed to ensure that the vessel can return to station for marine emergency response while the Inkanyezi will take up position to provide safety standby services to the FA Platform.

The local maritime industry has reacted strongly to the tragedy across social media, expressing its condolences and support for the families and the AMSOL team.