Tragic Sinking of Fishing Vessel Carlos Cunha
On December 16, the fishing vessel Carlos Cunha sank in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 200 nautical miles off the coast of Aveiro, Portugal. The 21-meter-long vessel reported taking on water after being struck by a wave, leading to a loss of communication. A distress signal was later received from the vessel’s emergency beacon, prompting a search and rescue operation that ultimately found three crew members in a life raft, while four others remain missing.
Search and Rescue Efforts Underway
The Carlos Cunha was in distress when it communicated with another fishing vessel, the Artur e Teresa. After the initial report of water ingress, communication ceased, raising alarms. The Artur e Teresa was nearby and quickly responded to the last known location of the Carlos Cunha. Upon arrival, the crew of the Artur e Teresa discovered three crew members from the Carlos Cunha in a life raft. Tragically, one of the rescued individuals suffered a cardiac arrest and died shortly after being brought aboard.
Following the incident, authorities initiated a comprehensive search and rescue mission involving the Portuguese Navy and Air Force. Despite extensive efforts, no additional survivors were located in the vicinity where the Carlos Cunha had sunk. The fate of the four missing crew members remains uncertain, and the search has been met with challenges due to the vastness of the ocean and adverse weather conditions.
This incident is not the first tragedy associated with the Carlos Cunha. The vessel, previously known as the Siempre Casina, sank in the Bay of Biscay in 2005, resulting in the loss of eight out of nine crew members. Investigations into that incident suggested that flooding in the fishing holds contributed to the rapid sinking, although later inspections dismissed concerns over modifications made to the vessel. The recent sinking raises questions about safety measures and the risks faced by fishing crews operating in treacherous waters.
