Loss Prevention Advice
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A major search and rescue operation (SAR) is underway roughly 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, after the tug Leo sent out a distress signal late on 2 March.
At 19:02 local time, the vessel transmitted a mayday, reporting uncontrolled water ingress and requesting immediate assistance. Cape Town Radio relayed the distress call to nearby vessels, prompting an emergency response. The tug, carrying 18 crew members, sank in the early hours of Wednesday after the crew abandoned ship into four life rafts.
As of Wednesday morning, 13 crew members have been accounted for, including 12 survivors and one individual presumed deceased. Search efforts continue for the five remaining crew members.
Two merchant vessels and a local fishing boat remain on the scene assisting the rescue, while a helicopter has been deployed to provide aerial coverage of the area.
Adverse weather conditions continue to hamper operations, but authorities report that all available resources are being fully utilized to locate the missing crew.
An Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate the response and ensure cooperation between the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town, on-scene resources, and other relevant agencies.
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A cargo vessel, the Dura Bulk, sank off the coast of Western Sahara, Morocco’s transport ministry said on 1 March.
The Panama-flagged general cargo vessel Dura Bulk sank off the coast of Laayoune. As reported, the relevant authorities acted promptly upon receiving the information and launched a search-and-rescue operation.
All crew members were safely rescued, transferred to a secure location, and are receiving appropriate care under suitable conditions.
Morocco’s transport ministry confirmed that the vessel, carrying a cargo of clinker, an essential component for cement production, experienced water ingress while en route to Laayoune port in Western Sahara.
An investigation has been launched by authorities to determine the cause of the incident.
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An incident where a vessel was towing a barge when the towing wire parted.
What happened?
A vessel was towing a barge when the towing wire parted. Earlier on the same day, the same towing wire had snagged and was damaged. The damaged wire was reused for towing and eventually parted during manoeuvring.
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On 26 February, the Port of Casablanca in Morocco experienced an overboard container incident near the harbour entrance.
The National Ports Agency issued a suspension order around 2300 local time on Thursday, 26 February, citing unsafe transit conditions due to the incident. Media reports indicate that port operations remained suspended on Friday. As reported, a containership, bound for Barcelona after handling containers at the port, spilled cargo into the channel.
The vessel encountered heavy swells, causing it to roll, with an estimated 85 containers going overboard. As of the latest update, the ship is anchored approximately six nautical miles offshore.