Two injured crewmen were evacuated from a bulk carrier off Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on August 28, the country’s National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) informed.
The crew members sustained injuries after a wave washed over the 177-meter-long MV Bona in heavy seas.
Consequently, the two men were washed up against machinery on board the vessel.
At the time of the incident, the Handy bulker was believed to be offshore of the Transkei Coast.
In the evening hours of August 28, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft, accompanied by two EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics, to rendezvous with the ship and evacuate the seafarers.
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was alerted and a duty doctor was put in contact with the ships medical crew to evaluate the seafarers’ medical condition.
It was determined that sea conditions were most favorable for the vessel to head towards Algoa Bay.
NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue craft rendezvoused with the vessel three nautical miles offshore of the Port of Port Elizabeth, evacuating the injured men.
Both patients were brought safely into port and transported to hospital for further care.
The 2012-built Bona, previously known as Merganser, is owned by Greece-based company Unit Maritime, according to data provided by VesselsValue.