South Africa's sea rescue service took two ill seafarers off ships near the port of Durban in the last few days. Both men were brought ashore and taken to hospital in a stable condition. The NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) described the two operations on 9 November 2026.
The NSRI is South Africa's volunteer sea rescue service. Etienne van Zyl, the commander of its Durban station, gave the details in an NSRI statement. The NSRI did not name the ships or the seafarers.
A Chinese seafarer on a fishing vessel
On the afternoon of Thursday, 5 November, the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) alerted the NSRI in Durban. A 39-year-old Chinese seafarer on a 66-metre fishing vessel had a medical problem. The vessel was coming towards Durban from the deep sea.
On Friday at 17:30, the NSRI rescue boat Alick Rennie left its base with paramedics from the ambulance service Faith Med. On board were NSRI MEX crew. MEX means maritime extrication: rescuers trained to move patients off ships.
They met the fishing vessel 4 nautical miles off the port. A rescuer and a paramedic went on board. They found the patient in a serious but stable condition.
The rescuers set up a rope system with a rescue basket, working from a height. They lowered the patient in the basket onto the rescue boat. He reached the NSRI base and went to hospital by ambulance. The operation ended at 19:00.
A Vietnamese seafarer on a container ship
Early on Saturday morning, at 02:40, shipping agents alerted the NSRI. A 29-year-old Vietnamese seafarer had a medical problem. He was on a container ship 260 metres long that was coming towards Durban.
The rescue was done on Sunday, 8 November, at 11:00. There was a level 5 weather warning for heavy rain from the South African Weather Service. The rescue boat met the ship 4 nautical miles off the port. The ship's medical crew was looking after the patient, and he was stable.
The patient wore protective gear and a harness, with a safety line attached. He was helped down the pilot ladder onto the rescue boat. The operation ended at 12:30.
In both cases, Telkom Maritime Radio Services helped with communications. The NSRI thanked the crews of both ships for their help. Port control, port health, the police border unit, the medical service ShipMed and the shipping agents also helped the MRCC.
The NSRI often does this work along the South African coast. In October, it took an ill Filipino seafarer off a bulk carrier near Gqeberha. It also took two injured seafarers off a bulk carrier near Richards Bay.
What crews can do if someone falls ill near the coast
Ask for medical advice by radio early. Tell the MRCC, the company and the agent at the next port. In the second case, the agent raised the alarm more than a day before the transfer.
Expect to come close to the port. Rescue boats meet ships near the coast. Here, both transfers took place 4 nautical miles off Durban.
Write down the patient's age, symptoms, medicines given and the times. Give this to the paramedic who comes on board.
Rig the pilot ladder as for a pilot, with good light and a lifebuoy ready. If the patient can climb, use a harness and a safety line, as the rescuers did here.
If the patient cannot climb, clear space on deck for a stretcher or rescue basket. Have crew ready to help the rescuers with lines.
Pack the patient's passport, seaman's book, medicine list, phone and a few clothes before the rescue boat arrives.
Follow the rescue crew's instructions during the transfer. In bad weather they decide if and how it is safe to move the patient.
Official help lines for seafarers are on our useful links page.
Cover photo: The bay of Durban, South Africa, with port buildings on the left and the city on the right, July 2025. Illustrative photo. Photo: RishHans/Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (cropped).
Sources: NSRI: NSRI Durban, Monday 9 November, two maritime medical evacuation operations (9 Nov 2026).
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