Three Rescuers Dead After South African Tug Disaster: What Went Wrong?
Five crew members thrown overboard when a Fast Rescue Boat capsized during an emergency operation 47 nautical miles off.
A rescue operation off the southern coast of South Africa ended in tragedy on Wednesday, September 30, after three rescuers were killed and two others went missing during an emergency response.
The incident unfolded approximately 47 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, near an offshore platform. The Umkhuseli, an 83-meter emergency towing vessel operated by AMSOL under contract with South Africa’s Department of Transportation, had been dispatched to assist a crew member who fell overboard. The 5,400-gross-ton vessel, built in 2013, was performing standard emergency procedures when a Fast Rescue Boat (FRB) was launched with four crew members to recover the missing individual.
Search Efforts and Aftermath: South African
The FRB capsized during the operation, throwing all four crew members into the water. Combined with the original overboard crew member, five individuals were in the ocean. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Cape Town was alerted and coordinated a multi-agency response, including the National Sea Rescue Institute and the South African Police Service.
Rescuers recovered three of the missing crew members, all of whom were confirmed dead. The search for the remaining two was suspended overnight but resumed at daylight on Thursday, with helicopters, boats, and the Umkhuseli remaining on scene. Another AMSOL tug, the Inkanyezi, later joined the effort. However, authorities suspended the search later that day after assessing conditions, with the two missing crew members presumed dead.
AMSOL and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) have launched separate investigations into the incident. The company stated it was providing support to the families of the lost crew members, while SAMSA and the Department of Transportation conduct an external probe. South Africa’s Minister of Transportation acknowledged the tragedy during a launch event in Johannesburg, calling for a moment of silence in honor of the victims.
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