Kenya coast guard services KCGS has rescued a fishing vessel with 21 Kenyan crew onboard from sinking in the Indian Ocean.
KCGS reports that the fishing vessel christened SEAMAR II was on a fishing expedition in the deep seas when the engine of the distressed vessel failed and started getting submerged by water.
According to a KCGS statement, released on Friday, the Captain of the distressed vessel reported, through a radio call, that there was flooding in the engine room and was increasingly overwhelming the ship’s submersible pump.
The incident reported on Wednesday, January 11, 2022, at 1427 hours prompted a quick response of the Kenya Coast Guard Ship (KCGS) DORIA to rescue the crew and tow the distressed vessel to the shores of the Indian Ocean.
“The Kenyan flagged fishing vessel christened SEAMAR II, reported ingress of seawater into her engine room, posing a significant risk to the 21 crew on board in the unfortunate likelihood of sinking at sea. This prompted the crew to send out a mayday call,” reads a press statement.
“On Wednesday 11th January 2023, KCGS received information from the maritime Joint Operations Centre (JOC) on a ship in distress about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Mombasa,” reads part of the statement.
It is reported that before the arrival of KCGS DORIA, the sister ship of SEAMAR II, christened MISS JANE, which was in company with SEAMAR II during the fishing expedition, came alongside and managed to evacuate the 21 crew on board the distressed ship.
“The Commanding Officer of KCGS DORIA, Lt. Commander Japheth Mayaka facilitated the transfer of the submersible pump on board his Ship onto SEAMAR II to help manage the flooding.”It adds.
The operation was conducted in accordance with Section 8 (1. i) of the Kenya Coast Guard Act 2018 requires the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) in Kenya’s territorial waters.
The vessel SEAMAR II is currently undergoing repairs at a private shipyard in Kilindini port after the rescue.
This comes as Kenya coast Guard services heighten surveillance on Kenyan terrestrial waters to ensure safety and security at the sea.
