On March 8, the fishing vessel Guariste Primero caught fire in the Pacific Ocean some 800 miles off the coast of Peru.  The Guariste Primero was fishing for swordfish when fire erupted from the vessel’s engine room. The 14 crew on board were unable to contain the blaze and were forced to abandoned ship. Thirteen of the crew were able to escape to the life rafts.  The chief engineer was discovered missing and presumed to have been trapped in the engine room.  The 13 survivors were rescued by a nearby fishing vessel.