South Africa said 15 seafarers have been rescued after they were forced to abandon their offshore supply vessel during a fire.
The 7,719-bhp AM Pride (built 2006) was burning about off the Cape of Good Hope late on Thursday afternoon when the crew members were taken off the anchor-handling tug supply vessel, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority.
Seven were taken to shore and another eight crew members were staying on a nearby platform overnight, the agency known as SAMSA said.
“All crew members are reported in good health and safe,” SAMSA said.
The Marshall Islands-flag AM Pride is controlled by India’s Alphard Maritime Group, with V.Ships Offshore as its technical manager, according to data from Equasis. It is classed with the Indian Register of Shipping and has insurance from the Shipowners’ Club.
South African officials became aware of the situation on Thursday morning when the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Cape Town received a distress call from the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA).
The company reported that the AM Pride was near the platform and the fire in the ship’s galley was “spreading uncontrollably”, SAMSA said.
Two panamax bulkers — Diamlemos Shipping’s 74,800-dwt Angelic Peace (built 2001) and Technomar Shipping’s 79,500-dwt Thunderbird (built 2011) — were dispatched to the scene to assist.
A PetroSA helicopter helped evacuate crew members by taking them to the platform and then to shore. The aircraft can winch up to four people at a time.
Additionally, the Cape Town-based emergency tug vessel Umkhuseli has been dispatched to the scene and the National Sea Rescue Institute in Mossel Bay was placed on standby.
The AM Pride is about 48.5 nautical miles (90 km) south of the port of Mossel Bay and drifting in a northwesterly direction, SAMSA said.
It is facing severe weather with south-easterly wind gusts as strong as 30 knots and swells reaching 5 metres. Visibility is limited to just seven nautical miles (13 km), the agency said.
“SAMSA continues to closely monitor the situation and has convened the Incident Management Organisation which includes all relevant stakeholders to ensure effective incident management,” the South African agency said.
