With mains and insets

TAGS: SA Navy, Kommetjie, submarine, Simon’s Town, V&A

Waterfront, Tamsin Metelerkamp, Victoria O’Regan, Department of
Defence, NSRI,

By Victoria O’Regan and Tamsin Metelerkamp

NAVAL CRISIS

Three dead, five rescued in SA Navy sub disaster off Kommetjie

The naval accident came after a weekend of high winds and rough
seas, and a South African Weather Service warning of damaging
waves in the Cape Town area on Wednesday.

The Department of Defence (DoD) has confirmed the deaths of three naval
mariners on Wednesday in an incident involving the South African Navy
submarine SAS Manthatisi. The vessel was offshore of Kommetjie in Cape Town
when high waves swept seven crew members out to sea. A rescue operation
launched just before 3pm saved the lives of five personnel.

SAS Manthatisi was en route to Table Bay from Simon’s Town for the South
African Navy Festival, scheduled to take place at the V&A Waterfront from 23 to
25 September. According to the DoD, the mariners were in the process of
conducting a “vertical transfer” (VERTREP) by means of an SA Air Force
Maritime Lynx helicopter when they were swept overboard.

A VERTREP is a method of supplying seaborne vessels by helicopter.

“The VERTREP evolution was immediately cancelled and efforts were launched
to recover the members. A surface swimmer was dispatched from the helicopter
to assist with the rescue. Unfortunately, the recovery operation was negatively
affected by rough sea conditions,” the DoD said in a statement late on
Wednesday.

“All seven members were recovered but sadly there were three fatalities with one
senior officer in critical condition. The remaining members, including the surface
swimmer, are currently being treated in hospital. The names of the members will
be released once the next-of-kin have been informed.”
A weather alert issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned of
“damaging waves” in the City of Cape Town/Cape Point region on Tuesday and
Wednesday.

“Difficulty in navigation at sea for small vessels and personal watercraft… are
expected [sic]. Localised disruption of small harbours and/or ports could also
occur. Small vessels are at risk of taking on water and capsizing in a locality,”
stated the warning.

“Be aware of large, unpredictable waves along the coast. Small vessels are advised
to seek shelter in harbours, bays or inlets.”

Eyewitnesses to the rescue efforts in Kommetjie told Daily Maverick that the
swells off the coast were very large.

The naval accident comes just days after high waves, strong winds and the spring
tide caused chaos in coastal areas of the Western and Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-
Natal. Seas were rough and powerful waves swept inland, damaging property and
resulting in two deaths.

Read in Daily Maverick: The ‘angry sea’ just ‘kept coming’ – ‘frightening’
weekend storm batters coastal areas of SA

Joint rescue operation

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Kommetjie was activated following reports
of navy personnel in distress offshore of Slangkop Lighthouse, near Kommetjie,
according to NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon. They were joined by other
rescue teams, including the City of Cape Town's Water Rescue Network, SAPS
and SA Navy command.

“Of the seven people that were brought to shore at Kommetjie by NSRI
Kommetjie – seven adult males – CPR was conducted on two adult males who
sadly were declared deceased on the scene. One adult male was airlifted to
hospital by Netcare 911 helicopter. He remains, we believe, in a critical condition.
Four adult males were in satisfactory condition and did not require [going to]
hospital,” said Lambinon.

Dave Smith, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, reported that one SA Navy
officer remained onboard the naval vessel. She was extricated in the late
afternoon, offshore of Hout Bay, in a coordinated operation involving an SA Air
Force helicopter, NSRI air-sea rescue swimmers and EMS rescue paramedics.
“Sadly, despite extensive CPR efforts, the female officer was declared deceased.
The body of the female was airlifted to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue station. The
bodies of the three deceased have been taken into the care of Government Health
Forensic Pathology Services,” Smith said.

Lambinon said, “Our thoughts and condolences are with the families who have
lost loved ones in this accident, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by
this accident.”

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the DA conveyed its “sincerest

condolences” to the “families, friends, and colleagues of the mariners who
tragically lost their lives” in the incident. DM