Skip to main content

Mayday: Cargo Ship in Distress off South African Coast

Cape Town, South Africa – July 8, 2024 – A distress signal has been picked up from the cargo ship


Ultra Galaxy with the MMSI number 3E3578, currently located at position 31° 27.93’S, 017° 11.80’E. The vessel, a Panamanian-flagged general cargo ship measuring 124.56 meters in length and 21.2 meters wide, is facing an emergency situation.

Cape Town Radio issued a Mayday relay earlier today, requesting all vessels in the area to attempt contact with the Ultra Galaxy and immediately report any information to the relevant authorities.

The ship is experiencing challenging weather conditions with winds from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting up to 20 knots, and waves reaching heights of up to 6 meters. The sky is cloudy.

Emergency Contacts:

  • Cape Town Radio: [email address removed], +27 215510700
  • MRCC Cape Town: mrcc.ct@samsa.org.za, +27 219383300

The South African maritime authorities have activated emergency response protocols and are coordinating rescue efforts. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  On the night of March 6, 2025, at 22:16 UTC, a crew member of the merchant vessel MV Ariadne fell overboard in the central Adriatic Sea, approximately 30 nautical miles off the Italian coast, at latitude 41°39'N and longitude 16°50'E. Current weather conditions in the area are favorable, aiding search and rescue operations. The Italian Coast Guard promptly initiated search operations, deploying naval units and helicopters to locate the missing mariner. All vessels transiting the area have been alerted and are requested to maintain vigilant watch, reporting any sightings to the National Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (IMRCC) in Rome. The Coast Guard commander emphasized the importance of collaboration among maritime units in emergencies like this, noting that swift intervention is crucial to increasing the chances of successful rescue operations. Search efforts will continue unabated until the missing mariner is found or until authorities deem it necessary to conclude ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Distress Alert: Sailing Vessel Kiliki Overdue and in Need of Assistance

UPDATE:  The crew members were rescued.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Dramatic Ordeal of M/V CHRISTINA DEBORA: From Mechanical Failure to Abandonment in the Mid-Atlantic

In June 2025, the standby safety vessel CHRISTINA DEBORA , 38.77 meters in length, experienced a maritime emergency that culminated in its abandonment in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after drifting powerless for more than two weeks. The vessel had been sold and reflagged to Zanzibar either shortly before or just after leaving South Africa. The Beginning of the Crisis – June 8, 2025 The ordeal began on Sunday, June 8, when CHRISTINA DEBORA , navigating approximately 300 nautical miles northwest of St. Helena Island, suffered a major clutch failure, completely losing propulsion. Seven crew members were onboard at the time. The distress call was officially reported by MRCC NATAL on June 11: the vessel was adrift and urgently required clutch repair parts as well as potable water. Captain Victor managed to contact Johnny Clingham, the administrator of the Facebook group “St Helena’s Talk Group,” who verified the authenticity of the request and informed the wider maritime community. ...
2 comments
Read more