Falklands : Update on F/V/ FERRAMELES Crew
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 05.02.2008 (Article Archived on 19.02.2008)
Crew are being looked after at the Seamen's Mission.
UPDATE: 32 SAFE AS FERRAMELES SINKS IN FICZ
By J. Brock (FINN)
Radio Madrid reported on Saturday that the Falklands Flagged F/V FERRAMELES has sunk in the Falkland Islands Conservation Zone. All 31 crew as well as the Captain are safe. F/V LOITADOR rescued the crew from the ship’s life rafts, while F/V CASTELO took the Captain aboard and stayed in the area until the F/V FERRAMELES went down.
F/V FERRAMELES’ agents in Stanley are Eurofishing. The part owners are RBC Fishing. Tom Blake updated FIRS about what happened on Saturday and the facilities available to the crew now. He said that early on Saturday the vessel was approximately 70nm north of Stanley and had was riding out the rough weather. He went on to say that the ingress of water into the factory deck made the vessel unstable and it capsized.
The Marine Officer of the Fisheries Department is investigating the accident. Mr Blake thanked all involved in rescuing the crew and those who are caring for them and he is thankful that no one was hurt.
At the moment the crew are recovering in the Lighthouse Seamen’s Mission and an appeal has gone out for clothing and other items for them. Betty and Howard Turner, Managers of the Seamen’s Mission, said that after the men were brought ashore they were given sandwiches and a place to sleep. The Seamen’s Mission subsequently provided hot food and changes of clothes for all the crew.
Though the men were clothed the stock of emergency clothing is severely depleted and an appeal has been sent out for 40 sets of underwear and socks as well as trainers and shoes. Other items such as Jerseys, Pants, Tee Shirts, shirts, Jackets, Belts and coats are also needed to re-stock the emergency supply of clothing. Thankfully people had heard the appeal over FIRS and brought some items into the mission.
The rescued crew have sent a huge thank-you to all involved in their rescue and those who cared for them while they were in Stanley. They fly out on Saturday’s LAN flight.
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