South Africa Ends Search for Missing Crew of Sunken Fishing Vessel

South Africa’s maritime authorities have ended the search for half of the crew of a fishing vessel that sank in the Atlantic Ocean, 34 nautical miles west of the Cape of Good Hope. The F/V Lepanto, a South African trawler with a twenty-member crew, issued a distress call last week, leading to a large-scale search and rescue operation. Despite efforts from multiple vessels, volunteer organizations, and aircraft, only nine survivors were found in life rafts, leaving 11 crewmembers still missing.

After an extensive search that continued until after sunset, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) decided to call off the search effort due to a lack of sightings and favorable weather conditions. The agency expressed gratitude to the fishing vessels and companies that assisted in the search, with half of the vessels involved belonging to Sea Harvest, the operator of the lost F/V Lepanto. One victim’s body and two missing dogs were recovered from the water on Sunday.

Sea Harvest CEO Konrad Geldenhuys expressed devastation over the tragedy and pledged to work closely with authorities to determine the cause of the accident. The premier of the Western Cape region and the minister of fisheries also offered their condolences to the families of the missing crew members. The incident highlights the dangers faced by those working in the maritime industry and the importance of swift and coordinated rescue efforts in such emergencies.

Source .