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SAR operation suspended
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has suspended the SAR operation, which was launched after the sinking of the 'Leo' approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, on March 2 at sunset. The 12 surviving crew members of the AHTS have been safely disembarked in Port Elizabeth, where they have received medical attention and support. Nine of them were rescued by the container m/v 'Maersk Karachi' (IMO: 9162215), and the other three were rescued by the roro m/v 'Grand Hero' (IMO: 9339806) under challenging conditions, including strong winds, high swells, and limited visibility. Regarding the deceased crew member, the formal identification was underway in collaboration with the relevant authorities. The deceased body was recovered by the fi/v 'Boronia' and subsequently landed in Port Elizabeth. Five crew members remained missing, despite the extensive surface and aerial search operations conducted since the first distress call was received. Throughout the operation, multiple vessels and air assets were deployed to support the SAR mission under the coordination of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town. A navigation warning remained active, advising mariners transiting the area of potential debris, the last‑known position of the sunken vessel, and the presence of unrecovered life‑rafts. Mariners were requested to continue reporting any sightings of debris, pollution, or persons in the water to MRCC Cape Town or Cape Town Radio.
One dead and five missing after sinking
One person has died and five were missing after the 'Leo' sank off the coast of South Africa on the early morning of March 1, 2026, about 80 nautical miles off the coast of the Western Cape region. The tug had got in distress about 18 nautical miles offshore under stormy waters between Cape Town and Durban while returning from Durban, where it had sailed on Feb 25, to Lagos. It issued a distress call on Feb 28 at 5.02 p.m. initiating official rescue operations by the SASAR. A mayday relay was subsequently broadcast via Cape Town Radio to alert nearby vessels to render support. The crew abandoned ship into four life rafts before the tug sank. Two merchant vessels, the 'Maersk Karachi' (IMO: 9162215) and 'Grand Hero' (IMO: 9339806), and one local fishing vessel in the vicinity, the ''Boronia', assisted with search operations. A helicopter has also been deployed to provide aerial support across the search area. There were 18 crew members on board, 12 of whom were successfully rescued. The survivors were conveyed to Port Elizabeth, where officials from the Nigeria High Commission were on their way to receive them. At this time, one person has died and five others remained missing. Search operations are ongoing iapproximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay, to locate the missing crew members.
Major SAR operation for five missing seafarers
A major SAR operation, coordinated by the South African Maritime Safety Authority and the MRCC Cape Town, remained underway off South Africa’s southern coastline following the sinking of the 'Leo' approximately 80 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay after reporting severe flooding late on Feb 28. The tug had departed Durban earlier after several months of being laid up at Bluff and transmitted a mayday distress call at 7:02 p.m. LT, reporting uncontrolled water ingress and requesting immediate assistance. The crew of 18 abandoned ship into four liferafts, before the vessel sank in the early hours of March 1.Two merchant ships and a local fishing vessel diverted to assist, while aerial support was deployed to search the area despite difficult weather conditions. The 12 survivors have been landed for medical evaluation and consular assistance, with Nigerian diplomatic officials reportedly assisting affected crew members and families. An Incident Management System was activated to coordinate the multi-agency response. Volunteer crews from the NSRI were supporting the broader rescue coordination effort alongside MRCC resources, aircraft, and passing shipping. The tug was previously known as 'GMTS Tracker 01', a vessel linked to a widely reported crew abandonment case in Durban in 2023, after which outstanding wages were eventually settled and the crew repatriated in 2024. The tug was Nigerian-operated and returning to West Africa after undergoing work or preparation in South Africa, although ownership and operational control details have not yet been formally confirmed by the authorities. The distress message citing uncontrolled flooding suggested either structural failure, machinery-space ingress, or stability loss, though investigators were expected to examine seaworthiness, maintenance history, and operational condition following the vessel’s lay-up period. A formal marine casualty investigation will be initiated once search operations have concluded. The authorities were expected to focus on: – the source of flooding; – vessel condition after lay-up; – compliance with safety certification; – weather exposure during the voyage.
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