Search for four missing after shipwreck in Falkland Islands formally suspended

The authorities of the Falkland Islands [Falkland Islands]an overseas territory controlled by the United Kingdom, announced on Wednesday the formal suspension of search efforts to locate four missing sailors after a fishing boat sank last week with 27 people on board, nine of whom died.

The decision was made “after considering all the circumstances and in accordance with all international requirements,” the archipelago’s administration said in a statement.

The Argos Georgia, owned by British-Norwegian company Argos Froyanes Ltd. and flying the flag of Saint Helena, sank on July 22 some 370 kilometers — or 200 nautical miles — east of the Falkland Islands, due to a breach in its hull that caused seawater to enter and flash flooding.

At least 14 of the crew managed to get into lifeboats and were rescued by other fishing boats nearby, while nine perished and four others remain missing.

Of the 27 crew members, 10 were Spanish, eight Russian, five Indonesian, two Uruguayan and two Peruvian, according to reports at the time of the incident. Two of the deceased were Spanish nationals, as were two of those who are still missing, the Spanish authorities said.

The nationality of the other deceased and missing persons was not specified.

Since the shipwreck, Falkland Islands authorities have conducted a search covering more than 11,002 miles (nearly 18,000 kilometers) without finding any trace of the missing, so they presume they are dead, the statement said.

Despite the suspension of the search, the authorities have called on ships passing through the area in the coming weeks to “be alert for any signs of the missing persons or the remains of the ship and to immediately report them to the Maritime Authority.”

Authorities also reported that the bodies of the nine deceased arrived in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, where they will undergo the necessary tests before being handed over to their loved ones.

“This entire search and rescue operation and recovery effort has been a difficult and distressing event for all involved,” the statement said.

For its part, the private shipping company regretted the “tragic events that caused the loss of 13” of its officers and crew.

“The fishing industry is traditionally based on families. Argos Froyanes is a family business in every sense of the word and this week we have lost brothers, fathers and sons,” the company said on its social media.

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