By Sue-Ann Wayow
MORE than two weeks after the St Vincent-registered cargo vessel MV Fair Chance overturned, three bodies were found inside.
The vessel capsized on April 2 on the north coast of Trinidad waters and two crew members were rescued. However, the vessel had drifted into Venezuelan waters with five crew members still missing.
The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) in a media release on Monday that after a long process, the bodies were found on Sunday.
One person still remains unaccounted for.
The TTCG stated that after drifting into Venezuelan waters, permission was granted by the Guardia Nacional and the Coast Guard and a commercial tug entered sovereign waters of that country and towed the vessel back into Trinidad waters where it was calmer in Chaguaramas.
The vessel arrived on April 5, but later sank to the seabed that night.
“Notwithstanding this, the Coast Guard made urgent attempts to send divers into the vessel but all attempts to gain entry were unsuccessful due to the large amounts of cargo and other debris that had blocked the hatches and doorways. Commercial divers hired through the agent of Fair Chance also made attempts but the debris proved too much for them as well,” the TTCG stated.
Attempts were again made to move the cargo and debris piece by piece which continued until April 7 when the remains of one person were recovered.
The days that followed, a commercial salvage company was contracted to assist in cutting a hole in the deck of the vessel to gain access. A hole was cut into the deck but neither Coast Guard divers nor commercial divers could enter the boat.
The salvage company then began attempts to re-float the vessel a long process that was completed on Easter Sunday.
On Monday, members of the Coast Guard accompanied by police officers, entered the vessel and found three bodies which were removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James.
The TTCG extended condolences to the family members, relatives and friends of the persons who died as a result of the tragedy.
The TTCG added that it remains committed to Safety of Life at Sea and to border security.
