South African fishing company Sea Havest Group has conformed that its fishing vessel Lepanto was lost at a position 35 nautical miles west of Hout Bay on Friday. Nine of the 35-metre Lepanto’s crew were picked up.
Despite an extensive search effort by a number of fishing vessels and aircraft, debris has been observed, but hopes are fading for the remaining 11 crew.
Sea Harvest states that an immediate rescue operation was launched as the distress call was received from the vessel, initially by maritime vessels in the vicinity and thereafter the South African Maritime Safety Authority’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) as lead coordinator.
Nine crew were picked up by Sea Harvest’s fishing vessel Armana and they have been disembarked on Cape Town.
‘The men were supported with a physical evaluation by a medical doctor and provided with immediate trauma counselling; they have now been reunited with their families,’ a Sea Harvest representative said.
