A search operation is continuing off the coast of Durban after a man went missing at sea following an incident involving stowaways who allegedly jumped from a container vessel earlier this week.
The man is believed to be one of seven stowaways who entered the water on Monday as the ship approached the Port of Durban, reportedly in an attempt to swim ashore. Six of the men were later rescued, while the seventh remains unaccounted for.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said it has deployed rescue crews as part of an ongoing multi-agency search effort.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon confirmed that operations were coordinated through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, involving several vessels including the container ship in question, as well as additional commercial ships such as a bulk carrier and another container vessel.
“During the afternoon, [the] MRCC had coordinated a search and rescue operation involving the motor vessel container ship… as well as two additional commercial motor vessels, a bulk carrier and a container ship,” Lambinon said.
He added that NSRI teams were later mobilised after consultations with the Transnet National Ports Authority and police search and rescue units, despite delays since the initial alert and approaching nightfall.
NSRI Durban volunteers were activated and launched rescue craft, while search patterns were plotted in coordination with drift conditions, including sea currents and wind direction. A drift buoy was also deployed to assist in tracking.
Despite extensive efforts involving multiple vessels and coordinated search grids, there has been no sign of the missing man, who was reportedly last seen wearing a green shirt and green trousers.
Authorities say the search will continue as conditions allow.