Yacht crew lucky to escape
2005-04-18 07:29
Cape Town - Three yacht crew on a pleasure cruise had a lucky escape when a container ship weighing more than 13 000 tons grazed their vessel.
The incident on Sunday occurred in clear weather about 10 nautical miles north west of Robben Island, said National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
Initial reports that the accident occurred in thick fog were incorrect.
Lambinon said The Dolphin, a 32-foot, 8-ton wooden-hulled yacht was "side-swiped" by the 149m, 13 781 ton Gisela Oldendoff.
He said two NSRI rescue craft scrambled to scene after an emergency distress signal was sent out.
Dolphin skipper Gavin Cosgrove and his two crew said they were taking on water and feared the yacht might sink.
However, they managed to stem the tide and made their way to Cape Town Harbour under their own steam and escorted by the NSRI vessels.
Lambinon said a Sikorski helicopter from the Canadian Helicopter Company had been placed on alert as a contingency measure.
He said the yacht sustained "severe damage" to the starboard aft (right back) , as well as an apparent hole below the waterline.
The crew, on their way from Langebaan to Hout Bay, were uninjured.
The Gisela's last port of call was Tampa, Florida and she expected to dock in Cape Town later on Sunday evening.
It was unclear what, if any, damage the container vessel suffered.
Lambinon said it was unclear exactly how the accident occurred in clear weather.
- SAPA