Tuna seiner sinks off Côte d’Ivoire; 29 rescued

A Curaçao-flagged fishing vessel sank in the Gulf of Guinea off Côte d’Ivoire after suffering water ingress on Saturday, February 15.

The tuna seiner Albacora Seis sank on the afternoon (local time) of Saturday at a point 418 kilometres south of the port city of Abidjan, which it had sailed out of a day earlier.

All 29 crew, which consisted of Spanish nationals plus a few individuals from various West African countries, then abandoned ship. They were later picked up out of the water by another fishing vessel that had diverted to the area upon receiving their distress call.

Spain’s Salvamento Maritimo search and rescue (SAR) agency received word at around 21:40 UTC that rescue operations had concluded and that Albacora Seis‘ entire crew were safe.

The rescued sailors were then transferred to another fishing vessel and brought to Abidjan. They arrived there on Monday, February 17.