MONROVIA: The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) informs that a locally registered fishing vessel, F/V GLOBAL 8, owned and operated by Global Ocean Fisheries Incorporated has been aground.
The Monrovia Regional –Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRMRCC) received a distress alert from the vessel on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 2:30 AM.
The nature of the distress alert was mechanical problem due to engine failure caused by contaminated bunker fuel as reported by the Captain of the vessel.
According to LiMA release, upon receipt of the distress alert, the Liberia Maritime Authority activated its search and rescue response mechanism and launched a rescued mission led by the Liberian Coast Guard.
As search and rescue operations were underway, the vessel drifted and aground along the coast of behind the Sophie Community in Congo Town, near Monrovia, the release said.
The crew of 13 persons were rescued by the joint efforts of the Maritime Authority and the Liberian Coast Guard.
Following the rescue operations, the Liberia Maritime Authority dispatched a team of Safety Inspectors and Maritime Causality Investigators at the scene of the grounded vessel.
The primary focus was to search for and rescue the crew. This mission was effectively performed as all 13 crew members were evacuated.
The Maritime Authority is currently engaged with the owners and operators to have the vessel salvaged and towed to a refuge home or safe location.
Additionally, the release said bunker fuel and cargoes were removed from the vessel as proactive measure to prevent pollution to the marine environment.
