The SA Maritime Safety Authority will be investigating the stranding of a fishing vessel near Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The National Sea Rescue Institute said that the “12-metre fishing boat Alley Cat was found washed ashore along the shoreline”.
NSRI station commander, Ian Gray, said that the nine crew members were all safe.
He said the NSRI responded with the rescue craft Spirit of Surfski IV while the SA Police Services, a police Dive Unit, and EC Government Health EMS also responded.
“Casualty crew were walking ashore and only the skipper remained onboard,” said Gray.
“NSRI crew assisted to remove fuel, any contaminants and equipment and the owners and crew assisted with the removal of crews personal items and equipment from the fishing boat,” he said.
Gray says paramedics “medically checked the casualty crew and no injuries were found”.
He said the cause of the fishing boat running aground has not been determined but the owners will attempt to refloat it during high-tide on Sunday.
“SAMSA, (South African Maritime Safety Authority) are investigating,” Gray said.
