Update
KNYSNA NEWS - The charter boat that sunk near the Knysna Heads two weeks ago has been salvaged – in the most eco-friendly and safe manner possible. This is according to Chris Botes of Rib Adventures.
The boat lay beneath the water near the Heads, and last week they first removed parts that could contaminate the water, such as oil tanks and other removables. The hull was then floated out before the boat was taken onto land.
Two weeks ago, on 4 July, a group of international tourists had to be rescued after their boat capsized at the mouth of the Heads.
The incident occurred at about 13:20, when the commercial charter boat, owned and operated by Knysna Rib Adventures, capsized while making its way back from the Heads.
11 people on board
Knysna Rib Adventures owners Brett Gething and Chris Botes released a statement in which they confirmed that there were 11 people on board the custom-built boat when it was "blindsided and overturned by a rogue 3m-high wave".
According to the statement, among the passengers were six Dutch tourists and a German family of four, and everyone on board was fitted with a regulation life jacket at the time of the incident.
Dramatic photographs taken by onlookers show people floating in the water as they await rescue by NSRI Knysna – who were quick to respond and able to pluck all 11 people to safety.
It was confirmed the next morning that two elderly people were discharged from the Knysna Private Hospital where they were being treated for shock and mild hypothermia. The rest of the passengers were treated on-scene.
Skipper sensed trouble
The statement also lauded the boat’s skipper, 25-year-old Mynrich Bekker, "who is internationally accredited and has recently completed his Standard of Training Certification and Watch Keeping".
He was quoted saying that he was piloting the boat towards the Heads when years of experience cautioned him against making the passage.
He said he was in the process of turning the boat around when a freak wave slammed into the side of the boat, capsizing it and throwing everyone overboard.
“Bekker, who’s safely piloted more than 500 boat trips through the Heads, says he managed to keep all the passengers together and away from the boat when he realised the swell was going to smash it against nearby rocks,” read the statement.
Unblemished record
Botes says their high-performance boat was custom-built for adverse sea conditions and was equipped with all the latest safety gear. They have been running adventure tours through the Heads for more than eight years, he says, with an unblemished safety record.
On their website, the company cautions passengers that if conditions at the Knysna Heads are considered unsafe, they can expect boats to turn around and make a trip around the estuary instead.
Weather conditions were mild at the time of the incident, with a temperature of 18°C, wind speed of 3 to 7km, 20km visibility and an ocean swell of around 1.3m. Low tide was at 13:13.
Botes says they wanted to salvage the boat in the safest way possible and that is exactly how the operation went. “We are busy engaging all relevant parties with regard to the next step,” he said, adding that a new vessel will be launched in coming weeks.
Read a previous article: Fate of capsized charter boat unknown
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
