The Asl-Loong: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On March 4, 2016, a 20-year-old Indian sailor was safely evacuated from the bulk carrier 'Genco Commodus' and is currently in stable condition at a hospital in Port Elizabeth. The urgent medevac was initiated when the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) alerted NSRI Air Sea Rescue (ASR) just before 2 p.m. of the need for a rescue operation. The sailor had suffered a compound fracture to his left ankle after being struck by a falling piece of metal aboard the ship, which was en route from Chile to Bahrain and expected to reach the waters off Port Elizabeth later that day. As preparations for the rescue commenced, an SA Air Force 15 Squadron helicopter was dispatched, joined by an Eastern Cape emergency medical service (EMS) paramedic, while NSRI Port Elizabeth's duty crew remained on standby. The operation officially began at 3.11 p.m. The helicopter, along with two NSRI ASR rescue swimmers and the EMS paramedic, met the vessel approximately 19 nautical miles off Cape Recife, braving swells of four to five meters and winds reaching 30 knots. The rescue swimmer successfully winched the patient into the helicopter, where the EMS paramedic provided medical care on the way to Port Elizabeth. Upon arrival, the sailor was transferred to an EMS ambulance for further treatment at a local hospital. For more details, visit the report with photos at enca.com.