An injured crewman was evacuated from a bulk carrier at anchor offshore of Veldrift on the West Coast, South Africa, on December 18.
The 36-year-old seafarer, a Chinese national, suffered an injured hand on board the 292-meter-long ship Great Sui, a statement published by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) reads.
Marius Hayes, NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) station commander , said that the SA Air Force (SAAF) 22 Squadron, WC Government Health EMS and NSRI ASR were activated to evacuate the man.
NSRI Melkbosstrand, Yzerfontein and Mykonos were placed on alert and Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with communications.
“We rendezvoused with the ship North of Dwarskersbos, in a 30 knot gusting wind and rolling sea conditions, where the helicopter landed onboard the ship and the patient, in the care of the EMS rescue paramedic, was brought aboard the helicopter and airlifted to Air Force Base Ysterplaat where an EMS ambulance crew took over care of the patient and transported the patient to hospital in a stable condition,” Hayes informed.
Built at Korean Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in 2010, the Capesize bulker, previously named E.R. Brazil, is owned by China’s Sinotrans Shipping.