South Africa: 23 Rescued After Ship Aground Near Richards Bay

South Africa: 23 Rescued After Ship Aground Near Richards Bay
Zachary Stieber
8/19/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

After a ship ran aground off Richards Bay in South Africa on Monday, 23 people were rescued by port personnel.

The coal cargo ship Smart had run into a sand bank while trying to exit the port to go out to sea. The captain ordered his ship to be abandoned and a helicopter as well as rescue boats were dispatched.

“The rescue swimmer [aboard the helicopter] was hoisted onto the ship and assisted crew, using under arm hoist, into the helicopter and all 23 crew of the ship were hoisted into the helicopter in relays,” Craig Lambinon, NSRI spokesperson, told News24

The rescued persons suffered no injuries. 

The single-hull, 151,279 metric ton ship is registered to Alpha Marine Corp and flies a Panamanian flag, according to Reuters, and it was on its way to deliver cargo to a port in China. 

Richards Bay port is on the Indian Ocean.