Authorities are continuing their search for a 31-year-old fisherman who went missing from a charter fishing boat off the coast of Struisbaai on Saturday. Despite extensive efforts involving multiple vessels, there has been no sign of the man.

The incident was reported to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) on Saturday morning. The missing man, originally from the Eastern Cape and residing in Struisbaai, along with fellow fishermen travelled from a local harbour to the fishing grounds at the 5 Mile Banks, approximately 4.2 nautical miles offshore.

The incident is said to have occurred between the time of departure and the time the other fishermen arrived at the grounds. The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon said the man is suspected to have gone overboard.

“The fishing vessel launched at around 05h00, from Struisbaai Harbour, and on reaching fishing grounds, while preparing to initiate fishing operations, it was discovered that their colleague was no longer on the boat from unknown circumstances and the alarm was raised,” said Craig Lambinon,  of the NSRI Communications desk.

Lambinon said in a statement that a coxswain on a nearby private fishing boat joined the search, and the NSRI Agulhas duty crew launched the rescue craft Rescue 30.

The SA Police Service and at least five local commercial and recreational fishing vessels also assisted.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) issued a broadcast alert, and the SA Navy frigate SAS Amatola, which was in the area, joined the operation.

“Search grid patterns, taking into account wind speed and direction and sea currents, were plotted and search operations were coordinated by NSRI Agulhas.”

Lambinon said that despite the extensive search, there was no sign of the missing fisherman.

“All ships alerts are continuing to be broadcast and we are appealing to the local Maritime community to keep a sharp lookout.”

The incident is under investigation by the

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