Navy rescues fishermen after fishing trawler collides with container carrier in mid sea

The Navy has launched a rescue and recovery operation after a fishing trawler with seven fishermen on board collided with a container carrier recently in the mid sea off the southern coast.

According to the Navy Media Unit, on 9 January around 11:20 p.m., the container carrier “MV Glovis Captain” under the flag of Marshal Islands, which was sailing to the Hambantota port from the port of Colombo collided with “Nadeesha II”, a multiday fishing trawler which had left Hikkaduwa fisheries harbour for fishing with seven fishermen onboard on 1 January, at the deep sea 13 nautical miles off the Light House, Dondra.

Immediately after the Naval Headquarters received the information on the collision, 2 Dvora Fast Attack Craft, P 492 and P 480, attached to Southern Naval Command were dispatched to the location for rescue mission that night itself.

The ship’s crew had been able to rescue two of the distressed fishermen and the Navy has rescued another while the naval personnel also recovered two dead bodies.

The collision had taken place while the fishing trawler was heading ashore taking the dead body of a fisherman who had died due to a sudden illness onboard. It is suspected that the dead body may have been trapped inside the trawler.

The Naval craft together with the container carrier has taken precaution actions preventing the sinking of the distressed trawler. The Navy continues to search for another fisherman who is still missing.

Three rescued fishermen and the dead bodies were transferred to the Galle harbour and later sent to the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya.