Eighteen Filipino seafarers, crew members of the general cargo vessel MV Ultra Galaxy, have been rescued after abandoning their severely listing ship in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
The rescue operation commenced on Monday July 8, following the detection of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert from the MV Ultra Galaxy. The vessel was approximately 60 nautical miles west of Doring Bay when the alert was detected at 3:00 a.m. local time, prompting an immediate response from maritime authorities.
SAMSA’s statement revealed that a May Day call was quickly broadcast to nearby vessels. The MV Fivos, MV Rio Grande Express, and the fishing vessel FV Malachite, being the closest to the distressed ship, were diverted to assist in the rescue operation. At the time, weather conditions were challenging, with winds reaching up to 12 knots per hour and swells between five and six meters.
“The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Cape Town) dispatched two nearby cargo vessels to the location of the alert to investigate the situation,” SAMSA reported. “The rescue vessels successfully located a life raft in the water and confirmed that there are 18 seafarers—all Filipino—onboard.”
SAMSA expressed relief, stating, “We are relieved to report that all crew members have been accounted for. A coordinated rescue operation has since ensued to recover the survivors. All crew are safely aboard the FV Malachite en route to St Helena Bay.”
The MV Ultra Galaxy, a 124.56-meter-long Panama-registered general cargo vessel built in 2008, was reportedly en route to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, when it issued the distress call. The crew is expected to reach shore by approximately 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
SAMSA also confirmed on Monday afternoon that efforts were underway to salvage the listing vessel, with Emergency Towing Vessels being organized to assist. Further details regarding the salvage operation will be provided as they become available.
