CAPE TOWN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- South African sea rescue organizations announced on Saturday that search and rescue efforts are continuing for 11 fishermen who went missing after their fishing trawler sank off the coast of Cape Town.

The fishing vessel sank about 30 nautical miles off Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard on Friday afternoon, according to a statement issued by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), a member of South African Search and Rescue.

The vessel was carrying a total of 20 men, nine of whom have been recovered, but 11 are still missing at sea, the NSRI reported.

NSRI Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said five fishing vessels went searching for the fishermen and managed to recover nine men in a life raft.

"The nine survivors are not injured, and they were brought to the Port of Table Bay aboard a fellow fishing vessel during the night. They are in the care of their fishing company," he said.

"Three NSRI rescue craft arrived in the search area and joined other fishing vessels in an extensive search operation for the 11 missing fishermen in three to four-meter sea swells and 10 to 15 knot winds," Lambinon said.

"The casualty fishing vessel appears to have sunk from unknown causes. Both life rafts from the casualty fishing vessel have been recovered. An AGA (Aerios Global Aviation) helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft joined in the search operation. Despite an extensive air and sea search, there remains no sign of the 11 missing fishermen, and the search operation is ongoing," he added. Enditem

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