Nigerian Tugboat LEO Sinks Off South Africa, Leaving One Dead & Five Missing

A Nigerian-flagged tugboat, LEO, has sunk off South Africa’s southern coastline, leaving one crew member dead and five missing, while 12 others were rescued.

The vessel went down late Saturday night after reporting uncontrolled water ingress in heavy weather approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay.

Authorities confirmed that search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing as adverse sea conditions continue to hamper efforts.

According to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Cape Town (MRCC Cape Town), the tug transmitted a mayday distress message at 19:02 local time on Saturday. The crew reported uncontrolled water ingress and requested immediate assistance.

A mayday relay was broadcast via Cape Town Radio to alert vessels in the vicinity.

The tug had 18 crew members on board. Before the vessel sank in the early hours of Sunday morning, the crew abandoned ship into four life rafts.

Of the 18 crew members, 12 were rescued alive, one is presumed dead, and five remain missing.

Two merchant vessels and one local fishing vessel are assisting in the search area. A helicopter has also been deployed to provide aerial support.

The search is being managed under an Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate maritime authorities and rescue teams on scene.

The South African Search and Rescue Organisation (SASAR) extended condolences to the family of the deceased crew member.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed that South African authorities formally notified the Nigerian government of the incident.

She stated that the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is leading rescue efforts.

Survivors are being transported to Port Elizabeth, where officials from the Nigerian High Commission are en route to provide consular support and assist affected crew members.

The sinking occurred approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, along South Africa’s southern maritime corridor. The route is known for sudden weather shifts, strong winds, and heavy swells.

Prevailing weather conditions remain adverse, according to MRCC Cape Town, but all available resources continue to be deployed in the search area.

The tug LEO had reportedly travelled to South Africa for repairs and was returning toward Lagos when it encountered severe weather.

In a separate case about a month ago, a 40-foot fishing vessel, FV Western Star, sank after a fire broke out while at anchor off St Francis Bay.

All 11 crew members were evacuated safely. The wreck later led to a navigation warning because it posed a risk to passing ships.

Reference: SAMSA

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