Overdue fishermen safe
A four metre Maltese fishing boat with two fishermen on board is being towed to shore after having been reported missing yesterday, the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) said.
The AFM said it spent the night searching for the overdue boat following a report last night by a neighbour of one of the fishermen. The neighbour stated that the two fishermen cast off from Marsascala to fish some eight nautical miles offshore.
The AFM’s Operations’ Centre at Luqa Barracks immediately initiated a surface search, which continued well into the early hours of this morning.
Subsequently, the missing boat was found safe. It was spotted by a fisherman who was in the area.
An AFM Air Wing Islander aircraft and a Maritime Squadron patrol boat, that were searching in the same area, have remained in the immediate vicinity and will remain in the area until the two men return home safely.
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N Palmer
Aug 11th 2008, 08:22
Good news that they have been found, doesn't matter by whom, however it is still very very disappointing to read that even after an eye-opener that was the Simshar incident, people are still not carrying the necessary safety equipment.
Someone may be able to correct me, but any vessel that heads out further than 3nm is legally required to carry a VHF and cannot go out further than 12nm (restriction imposed for vessels under 6m in length).
Given the resources utilised for this search, will these two men be fined and held accountable for their actions? I am assuming that no working VHF was on board because
a) They should have radioed Malta VTS on their departure and announced their intentions including their estimated time of return, b) Once they found themselves in difficulty they could have initiated a Pan Pan call and requested assistance.
In this instance it's not fair to point fingers at the AFM. For those of you not out at sea regularily, there are sometimes 40 boats (both amateur and commercial) fishing on the West coast all within 12nm; we certainly don't have 40 patrol boats!
Denis Catania
Aug 10th 2008, 16:03
@Mark Vella: I think any man who selects to rescue people as his profession should get the medal of bravery, just for choosing to do so. But there is nothing wrong with us citizens to push the hire ups to do a better job. Such as better equipment. More planes, more boats and so on. One way to do this is to criticize them.When I say them, I don't mean the individual soldier. Should something happen to that single plane, what do we have in reserve to rescue our rescuers.Or do we depend on another country to do so.
Mark Vella
Aug 10th 2008, 00:01
I am no sea farer but the way I see it is that if your car stops, the chances are that someone will stop by to assist before the towing service arrives. I guess that with all the fishermen out there, the chances are that they spot a boat before the rescue services do. This does not mean that the AFM is not capable of helping people in distress. Lets not forget how may people owe their lives to these brave people. The Simshar tragedy which, by the way, is still shrouded in doubts and subject to two inquiries, seems to have made some people forget that last year one of our soldiers was awarded the medal for bravery for saving a person in distress! Keep up the good work and God bless!
GEORGE CARUANA
Aug 9th 2008, 19:46
A four metre is a small boat to find 8 miles out at sea. To comment one has to have some experience of the open sea. IT is difficult to spot a small boat in such an open sea especially in choppy waters. I NSTEAD of blaming the armed forces seamen both professionals and others should have the basic safety equipment on board especially vhf radios for smaller boats.
Denis Catania
Aug 9th 2008, 18:31
We get crazy at two men, who are trying to make a living. But we praise and feed these illegal immigrants for crossing these waters. Maybe if they would have took a pregnant woman with them, then we wouldn't get on their case. How come the AFM finds all illegals, and can't find a Maltese fishermen without the help of our great fisherman? Is it possibly that the illegals have more money than our fisherman. I propose to raise prices on all seafood products caught by our fisherman by 50% so they can buy bigger boats and satellite phones. Come on give our fisherman a break.
adrian sammut
Aug 9th 2008, 17:19
@j azzopardi.
I could,nt agree more! Very well put. It is typical of us Maltese to treat Safety with a pinch of salt. I guess these fisherman use the 'It wont happen to me' theory much of their time. Then again a 4 metre boat should,nt go that far out at sea in my opinion.
wally vella-zarb
Aug 9th 2008, 16:49
Rather than being frivolous and trying to poke (undeserved) fun at the AFM, would it not be more meaningful to realise that eight miles offshore is no place for a four-metre boat - especially if it is an open boat?
Denis Catania
Aug 9th 2008, 16:24
I's starting to believe that when a fisherman goes missing. The AFM should bring up a fisherman with them. To guide them and help with the search.
Charles Camilleri
Aug 9th 2008, 15:00
All fishermen and other sea going persons are supposed to be have data track and other navigational equipment to be easily located in case of trouble. It seems these two did not care to have them and then we blame the AFM for not spotting them.
John Azzopardi
Aug 9th 2008, 14:41
All's well that ends well. However the question needs to be asked: did the fishermen who found the missing boat locate it because they know their colleagues' usual haunts? It seems to me quite obvious that if the lost boat had a functioning location beacon the AFM could have found the boat without any difficulty. After the Simshar tragedy, it is now an open secret that fishermen do not switch on their location beacons they do not wisj to dsiclose their location either (a) because they are fishing illegally, or (b) for commercial reasons . All this at the risk of losing their lives. Wonderful logic!
Andrew Cumbo
Aug 9th 2008, 13:37
I think it’s better to consider buying a "Luzzu" or "Kajjik" instead the new Patrol Boats that are to be bought!!! Who knows, may be the traditional eye in front of these boats, is helping the local fisherman to find missing persons at sea!!!
And AFM shall consider sending some soldiers to train themselves as mariners with local fisherman instead of sending them abroad.
A.Cumbo
Reuben Zammit
Aug 9th 2008, 12:36
Well done once again to Maltese fishermen... why not join the army and Frontex? I am sure we would see some good results then!
MARTHESE GRECH
Aug 9th 2008, 12:30
AS DR GONZI HAVE PUBLICLY SAID "THE AFM NEED TO EQUIP THEMSELVES FOR SUCH A RESCUE"
AGAIN IT HAD TO BE THE FISHERMEN TO FIND THE LOST BOAT.
A. Tabone
Aug 9th 2008, 12:15
"The AFM said it spent the night searching for the overdue boat"
"Subsequently, the missing boat was found safe. It was spotted by a fisherman who was in the area.
----
I really do not want to disrespect any work of the AFM to help the citizens, but is there an explanation why the AFM were not able to find the boat themselves after hours of searching?
C. Abela
Aug 9th 2008, 12:13
wara kulhadd gharef!
michael debono
Aug 9th 2008, 11:46
well done AFM.....for immediate response