Offshore Supply Vessel Catches Fire Off South African Coast, All 15 Crew Rescued

The AM Pride, an offshore supply vessel, caught fire off the southern coast of South Africa on September 12, 2024.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that the fifteen crew members were successfully rescued.

The incident occurred about 48.5 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape region.

The AM Pride, a Marshall Islands-flagged offshore supply vessel measuring 66.6 meters in length and 16 meters in width, caught fire early Thursday morning.

The SAMSA was informed about the incident around 10:30 a.m. when the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town received a distress call from the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA).

The fire in the vessel’s messroom was described as out of control.

The situation was further complicated by unfavourable weather conditions, including swells between 3.5 and 5 meters, a southeast wind gusting up to 30 knots per hour, and limited visibility of seven nautical miles.

The MRCC immediately initiated a MayDay relay through Telkom Maritime Services requesting assistance from nearby vessels. Two vessels, the MV Angelic Peace and MV Thunderbird, responded to the call and headed to the scene.

A PetroSa helicopter was dispatched to rescue the 15-member crew of the vessel.

The helicopter managed to rescue eight seafarers from a life raft and transported them to the nearby FA platform. The remaining seven crew members were later rescued and flown to George.

All fifteen crew members are expected to arrive in Cape Town by September 13, 2024.

Meanwhile, an Emergency Towing Vessel named Mkhuseli, operated by African Marine Solutions, is en route to the distressed vessel.

The Emergency Towing Vessel is expected to arrive at the site around 7:30 a.m. on September 13 to tow the AM Pride to a designated place of refuge.

According to SAMSA, the vessel’s rescue and return to safety arrangement is being coordinated with the owners.

Reference: SAMSA