S.Atlantic : 31 Rescued as Fishing Vessel Sinks in the Falklands
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Nathan Prince) 07.11.2006 (Article Archived on 21.11.2006)

Media Ops at HQBFSAI reported on Monday morning that Search and Rescue Teams from 78 Squadron were tasked on Sunday to rescue 31 crew members and a fisheries observer from the scalloping vessel, Holdberg, after the FPV Dorada relayed a call for help from the stricken vessel.

31CREW RESCUED AS FISHING VESSEL SINKS IN THE FALKLANDS

By J. Brock (FINN)

Media Ops at HQBFSAI reported on Monday morning that Search and Rescue Teams from 78 Squadron were tasked on Sunday to rescue 31 crew members and a fisheries observer from the scalloping vessel, Holdberg, after the FPV Dorada relayed a call for help from the stricken vessel.  The vessel had run aground after hitting rocks at Purvis Bay, 200 metres from the beach at low tide where it had been doing experimental fishing.  It was first thought that the vessel would float at high tide but it had been holed and began to sink at around 1830hrs on Sunday evening.

Owing to the closeness to shore all 31 were able to abandon ship and come ashore in the ship’s life rafts.  The Military said a SeaKing arrived at the site at approximately 1930hrs and took the crew members to Mount Pleasant and later transported them to Stanley by a bus procured by the Falkland Islands Police.

The incident will be investigated by the Royal Falkland Islands Police and FISHOPS.  There is no word yet about any pollutants leaking into Purvis Bay and it is thought that fuel will, at some stage, be pumped out of the vessel.