Following the loss after a fire on board of Sea Harvest fishing vessel Armana, South Africa’s Minister for Transport Barbara Creecy has instructed the board chair of South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA), Fakir Mahesh, to conduct urgent safety inspections of all commercial fishing vessels operating in South African waters.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a distress message that the Armana, owned by Viking Fishing Company, was on fire approximately 60 nautical miles off Gansbaai in the Western Cape at the weekend. The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by Ludwani, which was operating in the same area. No fatalities have been reported, although the 62-year-old converted side trawler is now believed to have sunk.
