{"id":267910,"date":"2025-10-18T11:04:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T09:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T11:14:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T09:14:32","slug":"german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/","title":{"rendered":"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EAST LONDON<\/strong>\u00a0– Two German sailors, one with dual American citizenship, who sparked a major search and rescue operation after issuing a distress call have been found safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident began in the early hours of Thursday morning when the Katouska<\/em>, whose last port of call was Mauritius, issued a Mayday distress call via VHF marine radio. The crew reported they were taking on water and in distress while sailing between East London and Gqeberha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The sailing yacht and both her crew are offshore of the Port of East London – they are safe – they were escorted and assisted by NSRI East London from the deep sea during the afternoon (Friday),” said Craig Lambinon, NSRI spokesperson. “Conditions are not favourable for them to come into the harbour at present – it appears that they have opted to stay offshore overnight and may come into port in the morning.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lambinon confirmed on Saturday that the incident has been handed over to the Ports Authority: “We are not involved anymore.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rescue operation launched<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday 16 October, Telkom Maritime Radio Services intercepted a distress call, which was then relayed to NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). According to the Ocean Sailing Association of South Africa (OSASA), the sailors had intended to head towards East London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, the crew managed to stem the water ingress and began rigging sails in an attempt to reach East London Port. NSRI East London launched their rescue craft Spirit of Lotto<\/em> as a precautionary measure to escort the vessel, which was believed to be approximately 20 nautical miles offshore of Kei Mouth in the Eastern Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search operations continued throughout Thursday and into Friday morning but were severely hampered by storm seas with swells reaching up to 8 metres and multiple storm fronts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two German sailors who sparked a major search and rescue operation after issuing a distress call have been found safe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":267912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"64","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"60","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"2","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"0","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[7909,91],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-267910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-recommended","tag-top"],"yoast_head":"\nGerman sailors found safe in Eastern Cape waters | Mthatha Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The NSRI successfully located two German sailors who issued a Mayday call during a storm off the Eastern Cape shore.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The NSRI successfully located two German sailors who issued a Mayday call during a storm off the Eastern Cape shore.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mthatha Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-18T09:04:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-18T09:14:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mthathaexpress.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg?fit=1280%2C960&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"PE Express\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"PE Express\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/25f53f52ce67530d12228e5aafd96f2b\"},\"headline\":\"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-18T09:04:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-18T09:14:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":315,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/NSRI-search.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Recommended\",\"Top\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/\",\"name\":\"German sailors found safe in Eastern Cape waters | Mthatha Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/NSRI-search.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-18T09:04:03+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-18T09:14:32+00:00\",\"description\":\"The NSRI successfully located two German sailors who issued a Mayday call during a storm off the Eastern Cape shore.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/NSRI-search.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/NSRI-search.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":960},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"Mthatha Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Mthatha Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Mthatha Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MthathaExpress\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/EP_Media24\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\"],\"description\":\"Mthatha Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of Mthatha and surrounding towns and villages for almost a decade. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 70,000 free copies delivered across the former Transkei area every week. It is also distributed once a month in East London.\",\"email\":\"mthathaexpress@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"+27472932973\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/25f53f52ce67530d12228e5aafd96f2b\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png\",\"caption\":\"PE Express\"},\"description\":\"This is some test biographical information for PE Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/mthathaexpress\\\/author\\\/peexpress\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"German sailors found safe in Eastern Cape waters | Mthatha Express","description":"The NSRI successfully located two German sailors who issued a Mayday call during a storm off the Eastern Cape shore.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore","og_description":"The NSRI successfully located two German sailors who issued a Mayday call during a storm off the Eastern Cape shore.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/","og_site_name":"Mthatha Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-18T09:04:03+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-18T09:14:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":960,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mthathaexpress.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg?fit=1280%2C960&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"PE Express","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@EP_Media24","twitter_site":"@EP_Media24","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"PE Express","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/"},"author":{"name":"PE Express","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/25f53f52ce67530d12228e5aafd96f2b"},"headline":"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore","datePublished":"2025-10-18T09:04:03+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-18T09:14:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/"},"wordCount":315,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg","keywords":["Recommended","Top"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/","name":"German sailors found safe in Eastern Cape waters | Mthatha Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-18T09:04:03+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-18T09:14:32+00:00","description":"The NSRI successfully located two German sailors who issued a Mayday call during a storm off the Eastern Cape shore.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg","width":1280,"height":960},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/german-sailors-found-safe-after-distress-call-off-eastern-cape-shore\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"German sailors found safe after distress call off Eastern Cape shore"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/","name":"Mthatha Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#organization","name":"Mthatha Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/mthatha-express-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Mthatha Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MthathaExpress\/","https:\/\/x.com\/EP_Media24","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000"],"description":"Mthatha Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of Mthatha and surrounding towns and villages for almost a decade. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 70,000 free copies delivered across the former Transkei area every week. It is also distributed once a month in East London.","email":"mthathaexpress@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"+27472932973","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/25f53f52ce67530d12228e5aafd96f2b","name":"PE Express","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png","caption":"PE Express"},"description":"This is some test biographical information for PE Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/author\/peexpress\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NSRI-search.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":295206,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/teenager-missing-another-rescued-at-east-london-beach\/","url_meta":{"origin":267910,"position":0},"title":"Teenager missing, another rescued at East London beach","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"25 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The search continues for a local 16-year-old male who had gone missing in the surf zone at Eastern Beach, East London on 24 January.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"nsri","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Picture1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Picture1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Picture1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Picture1-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47459,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/local-man-bitten-by-shark-while-free-diving-near-coffee-bay-20230502\/","url_meta":{"origin":267910,"position":1},"title":"Local man bitten by shark while free diving near Coffee Bay","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"2 May 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A 40-year-old man was reportedly bitten by a shark while free diving at Mngcibe, Mdumbi, near Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape on May 1.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9ce364e932bb431cb73c41631cb822e0.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43818,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/nsri-and-emergency-services-caution-beachgoers-to-be-water-safe-20241217\/","url_meta":{"origin":267910,"position":2},"title":"NSRI and emergency services caution beachgoers to be water safe","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"19 December 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"THE NSRI, lifeguards, SA Police, and other emergency services are appealing to groups visiting beaches, such as schools, churches, sports teams, people attending year-end functions, and bathers, to know the tide times, only go to beaches protected by","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/246fe44be7d64dad83b1e53ea1ae7607.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/246fe44be7d64dad83b1e53ea1ae7607.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/246fe44be7d64dad83b1e53ea1ae7607.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/246fe44be7d64dad83b1e53ea1ae7607.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44342,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/residents-warned-as-pharmaceutical-products-are-found-along-el-coastline-20240924\/","url_meta":{"origin":267910,"position":3},"title":"Residents warned as pharmaceutical products are found along EL coastline","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"26 September 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Buffalo City Metro security cluster, led by disaster management, East London police, and the Eastern Cape Human Rights and Missing Persons Unit, is on full alert following the discovery of an assortment of pharmaceutical products washed ashore along","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/43f8de0a10d44f29b91c300990d36b3b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":294930,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/nsri-advisory-spring-tide-and-coastal-safety-precautions\/","url_meta":{"origin":267910,"position":4},"title":"NSRI advisory: Spring tide and coastal safety precautions","author":"PE Express","date":"19 December 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"NSRI warns beachgoers to exercise caution during new moon spring tide peaking Saturday 20 December, affecting tidal conditions this weekend.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An NSRI lifeguard on the beach.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-NSRI-lifeguard-on-the-Brenton-on-Sea-beach.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-NSRI-lifeguard-on-the-Brenton-on-Sea-beach.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-NSRI-lifeguard-on-the-Brenton-on-Sea-beach.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-NSRI-lifeguard-on-the-Brenton-on-Sea-beach.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/An-NSRI-lifeguard-on-the-Brenton-on-Sea-beach.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47735,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/nsri-hands-over-certificates-to-swimming-course-graduates-20230314\/","url_meta":{"origin":267910,"position":5},"title":"NSRI hands over certificates to swimming course graduates","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"16 March 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"THE National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) handed over 62 certificates to the first cohort to successfully complete the Survival Swimming Course lessons offered at the institute\u2019s survival swimming centre in Tombo Village, Port St Johns.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7eaa1fe000864be7b854481f5cb4f666.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7eaa1fe000864be7b854481f5cb4f666.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7eaa1fe000864be7b854481f5cb4f666.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7eaa1fe000864be7b854481f5cb4f666.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7eaa1fe000864be7b854481f5cb4f666.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/7eaa1fe000864be7b854481f5cb4f666.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"PE Express","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/peexpress.co.za","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=267910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267910\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/267912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267910"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=267910"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=267910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}