On the evening of January 12, a fishing vessel Silver Dorado caught fire in the South Atlantic Ocean 1 nautical mile offshore of Noordhoek, South Africa. The fire with discovered by the master of the Silver Dorado as the vessel was headed out for fishing. The other 20 crew were resting in their bunks and were awaken to vessel ablaze.
The fishing vessel sent out a distress call that the vessel had caught fire and that all 21 crew members on board were abandoning ship. South African authorities alerted vessels in the area to assist while the NSRI launched the rescue vessels Bay Guardian and Rescue 6 Alpha from Gqeberha.
The fishing vessel Leguga arrived on scene finding all the 21 crew members of the Silver Dorado in the water. The Leguga launched its own life-raft and assisted recovering 12 crew members from the water. Other fishing vessels arrived on scene. The fishing vessel Raka rescued 4 crew and the fishing vessel Maverick rescued 4 more. The fishing vessel Vulcan rescued 1 crew member. With all 21 crew members accounted for and safe, the crew were transferred to the NSRI vessels. All crew were taken ashore at Port Elizabeth. No reports of injuries.
The Silver Dorado was reported still on fire and adrift. The fishing vessel was last seen near Cape Recife.
