The five seafarers died after a crew member went overboard and a Fast Rescue Boat capsized during the subsequent rescue attempt
Five African Marine Solutions (AMSOL) crew members who died following a fatal maritime incident off Mossel Bay, South Africa, on September 30 have been identified.
The incident occurred while the crew of the tug Umkhuseli was handling a mooring line. One crew member went overboard, prompting colleagues to launch a Fast Rescue Boat (FRB) to assist with the rescue.
The FRB subsequently capsized in challenging sea conditions, resulting in four additional crew members entering the water.
Three bodies were recovered during the search and rescue operation, while two crew members remained missing. Following the search operation and notification of their families, all five seafarers have now been identified as:
- Simphiwe “Simcard” Simayi – engineer
- Akhona Mlaba – officer
- Ditaba Leoto – able seafarer
- Zolile “Ronnie” Mlibaziso – oiler
- Sibonile Qalani – able seafare
AMSOL has expressed its condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased and said the company and wider maritime community are mourning the loss of the five seafarers.
“At this difficult time, we ask you to join the AMSOL family and maritime community in honouring our colleagues, their families and loved ones as we hold them up amidst our shared grief,” the company said.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has launched an investigation into the incident, while the search and rescue operation was conducted with the involvement of the relevant maritime authorities and emergency services.