The fishing vessel TS 97799 exploded and sunk in the South China Sea off Vung Tau, Vietnam. The vessel suffered the explosion in the galley from a cooking gas cylinder. Reports state only 4 of the 20 crew were later rescued. Authorities have launched a search and rescue operation for the remaining missing crew.
The 9.7 tonne fishing vessel Dolgorae capsized off Chujado Island, South Korea. The vessel with 21 persons on board capsized after being caught by nets used by fish farms. The master of the Dolgorae ordered passengers to abandon ship as the fishing vessel filled with water. Those able to escape clung to the overturn hull for 10 hours before rescuers arrived. Reports state 10 perished with another 8 reported missing. Three survivors were flown to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The 26 meter long, 260 gt fishing vessel Caledonian sank off Estevan Point near Tofino, British Columbia, Canada. The Caledonian’s four crew were hauling in a net when the fishing vessel began to list. The crew attempted to correct the list, but the dragger capsized and sank. When the Caledonian failed to report in, a search was launched involving three Canadian Coast Guard vessels and an aircraft. The search and rescue operation spotted two crewmen, but both had perished. A third crewman’s body was later found and recovered. The fourth crewman was spotted and rescued by a passing cruise ship MS Statendam which was en route to Victoria. Canadian authorities has launched an investigation into the incident.
