SIN QUERER DOS

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Report: Ship sank as a result of excessive weight of fishing gear

The 'Sin Querer Dos' overturned as a result of the excessive weight of the fishing gear on deck which totaled about 20 tons, when the stability book contemplated a maximum of 7.5. This was the main conclusion of the technicians of the Commission for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and Incidents (CIAIM) on the shipwreck of the seiner, in which four fishermen died, all from Cambados. The ship sank at noon on Dec 19, 2018, when returning to the home port of Portonovo for Christmas. She had left the port of A Coruña the previous morning and sank about 4.5 miles south of Fisterra. Six of the ten people on board were rescued, but four of them perished: the skipper, Manuel Serén, Bernardino Padín, Teófilo Rodríguez and Guillermo Casais, whose body was never found. The CIAIM report, which has just been published, indicates that the fishing gear had an estimated combined weight of about 20 tons. The ship had insufficient dynamic stability, not complying with the required criteria. The stability deficit was mainly caused by the excessive weight of the fishing gear. As a consequence of this lack of stability, the ship did not have the capacity to withstand the effects of the intense wind and roll. During the investigation, testimonies were taken from the survivors. According to these, two of the sailors and the skipper were on the bridge, another sailor was in the dining room, and six were in the cabins. One of the fishermen stated that at one point he noticed that the balance of the boat was "strange". Water flooeded on deck and in the next sea surge the ship no longer recovered from the list. Immediately, he notified all of his companions. But just a few seconds later the ship turned over. From the outset, two possible hypotheses were raised, although the technicians already described as more "reasonable" the one that the overturn was due to an excess weight of the nets. The sudden overturn could not be explained by a water ingress, which the survivors also discarded. In that case, the bilge alarm would have sounded andthey would have been able to locate the water inlet through the CCTV system they had on board It was also ruled out that the sinking was a consequence of bad weather, despite the strong waves and the wind that day off the Galician coast. “The maritime and meteorological conditions were adverse, but not exceptional. The CIAIM considers that a ship of the size of the 'Sin Querer Dos' could face such conditions without risk, as long as the ship had regulatory stability”. It was found out that in 2018 the owner of the purse seiner had changed the gear with which they used to fish before. This was placed at port side, and the new one was arranged aft and was of much larger dimensions, more resistant and much heavier than the previous one. The first time the crew placed the new net on board, the ship almost submerged the main deck at the stern, despite the fact that at that time she was without load.

Wreck identified as lost Sin Querer Dos

A wreck located in pos. 42º 48,2735´N 009º 17,6021 W on Dec 29 by the "Sebastián de Ocampo" of the Spanish Coast Guard could be identifierd by a ROV of the SAR ship "Don Inda" (IMO: 9338010) of Salvamento Marítimo on Dec 30 as the "Sin Querer Dos" in its first dive. Operations for the next underwater inspection were initiated. The wreck was resting 114 meters deep. The "Don Inda" returned to Corcubion on Dec 30 after the second inspection, thus ending the active phase of the SAR operation. Sapnish report and photos: https://www.farodevigo.es/portada-arousa/2018/12/30/salvamento-maritimo-inicia-inspeccion-robot/2025388.html https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/barbanza/muros/2018/12/30/robot-submarino-buque-don-inda-vuelve-inspeccionar-querer-dos/00031546166886399200361.htm

Search area for missing fisherman expanded

SAR forces have expanded the search area for the body of Guillermo Casais, the last man missing from the "Sin Querer Dos", on Dec 26. This search area now included areas relatively far from the presumed sinking site such as Cabo Vilán or Malpica, where a Helimer helicopter was deployed and searched the entire coastline. The search ended at 6.30 p.m. with the sunset. Also the "Don Inda" had participated. Forces of the Civil Protection of Fisterra were walking along the coast with five volunteers Boats have also been requested to navigate the area to take precautions and collaborate if they see something suspicious. Durng the recent days, nets and other objects were observed but it was not shure if they were origninating from the lost purse seiner which sank 4,5 miles off Fisterra on Dec 19.