By Sue-Ann Wayow
MEMBERS of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) have not yet dived into the waters to search for five missing persons who were aboard the capsized St Vincent vessel Fair Chance.
The TTCG in a press release on Monday stated that the conditions were still too dangerous.
The vessel overturned on Saturday along the north coast of Trinidad near Monos Island. Seven persons were on board. Two were rescued by a passing vessel. Five remain unaccounted for.
The TTCG stated that the search and rescue operation that ensued attempted to tow the vessel into shallower and calmer waters. However, due to the size and weight of the vessel, these attempts proved unsuccessful and the vessel drifted some distance into Venezuelan waters.
The TTCG has ensured that the vessel continues to be monitored in case any of the missing persons that may have been trapped on board was able to make their way out of the vessel and also as a safety precaution to prevent other vessels from colliding with it.
“However up to the current time, none of the missing persons have been seen or detected,” the TTCG stated.
The drift of the vessel into Venezuelan waters has caused the TTCG to establish and maintain liaison with Venezuelan authorities to facilitate the presence of a TTCG vessel alongside Fair Chance.
On Sunday, the owners of the vessel, with the assistance of the TTCG, were able to arrange a tug boat that made its way into Venezuelan waters and rendezvoused with the TTCG vessel which was on watch with Fair Chance.
The TTCG stated, “At approximately 4 pm on Sunday the Tug boat began slowly and carefully towing the Fair Chance back into Trinidad and Tobago waters. This operation is challenging and taking some time because the vessel is partially submerged whilst being upside down, sea conditions are rough, and the direction of the tow is against the predominantly western current. The intent is to take the vessel into calmer and shallower waters in the Gulf of Paria so that divers can commence searches inside of the overturned vessel.”
