Good Samaritan Vessel Rescues 10 Survivors from Sinking Trawler

On Saturday morning, the trawler Ankoveld went down off Saldahna Bay, north of Cape Town, South Africa.

A good Samaritan vessel rescued all 10 of the stricken fishing vessel’s crew.

According to the SAMSA Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town, the Ankoveld went down at a position about 30 nautical miles northwest of Cape St Martin.

The vessel’s skipper, who was among the 10 rescued crew, reported that the Ankoveld began to take water in the engine room, then capsized and sank.

After being alerted to the incident, the MRCC’s sub-center in Saldanha contacted the fishing vessel Atlantic Leader, a good samaritan vessel located near to the location of the incident.

The Leader successfully rescued all of the Ankoveld’s crewmembers, who had already abandoned ship into life rafts, and brought them back to shore at Laaiplek harbour.

Authorities have broadcast a navigational warning to other vessels sailing in the vicinity of the sunken vessel.

SAMSA officials in Saldanha Bay are conducting an investigation into the incident.

The Ankoveld was a 24-meter fishing vessel flagged in South Africa.

Both vessels involved are owned by the same company, a diversified conglomerate based in Laaiplek.