Simshar: lack of coordination in search efforts

A preliminary inquiry into the disappearance of the fishing boat Simshar (registered Samsher) in July last year has praised the armed forces (AFM) for doing all they could with limited resources.

Dr Ann Fenech, who carried out the investigation, said there was no coordination between the efforts made by the AFM and private efforts made by fishermen.

"It is a shame that the fishermen's cooperative and the Armed Forces did not put a greater effort into a more constructive liaison, and a greater shame that members of the fishing community thought it more appropriate to give more importance to public expressions of personal sentiment against the AFM.

"In the conduct of this investigation, I did not find anything which could support the allegations made by these persons against the Armed Forces as expressed in a number of television programmes," Dr Fenech said.

She said that it appeared that the fishermen embarked on their searches without any firm plans. This was a shame, because had there been more coordination, perhaps the persons on board the Simshar could have been found earlier.

The full report can be seen at:

http://doi.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2009/06/pr1118a.pdf

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090630/local/bugeja-says-he-did-not-know-how-to-operate-simshar-safety-equipment

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090630/local/what-caused-the-simshar-explosion

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090630/local/simshar-tragedy-evidence-gives-credence-to-survivors-account