NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated on Monday afternoon (3rd September) following reports of the Chokka fishing boat Jolly Fisher, with 14 crew onboard, taking water off-shore of Shark Point, Cape St Francis.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched to join the casualty boat’s sister vessel Jolene that was already on the scene and assisting.

5 crew of the casualty boat had been taken safely ashore by a tender boat, we believe some crew had been transferred onto Jolene, a skeleton crew remained on the casualty boat that was listing from water intake from a suspected blown seal and suffering motor failure from engine room flooding.

NSRI transferred a water pump onto the casualty boat and water was pumped out of the vessel and the ingress of water was stemmed.

Jolly Fisher set up a towline and, escorted by our sea rescue craft, Jolly Fisher towed the casualty boat into the Port of St Francis without incident and repairs will be undertaken.

No one was injured and once safely in Port no further assistance was required.