VIRGEM DOLOROSA

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Latest news

Search for three missing fisherman continued

Two Portuguese Navy ships and a group of forensic divers from the Maritime Police as well as a detachment of sapper divers continued to search for the three missing crew members of the 'Virgem Dolorosa' off the town of Marinha Grande, about 140 kilometers north of Lisbon, on July 4. On the shore side the search was continued by security and Coastguard personnel, supported by two vehicles and an aerial surveillance team, with two drones, although given the fog in the area, the conditions to fly over it were not met. The purse seiner has meanwhile sunk in shallow water one nautical mile from Samouco beach, in Marinha Grande. 11 people were rescued alive and the bodies of three more fishermen were recovered dead. The psychology office of the Maritime Police was providing support to the victims' families. Report with photo: https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/somosmar/2024/07/04/portugal-continua-busqueda-3-desaparecidos-naufragio-barco-pesca/00031720090310938428415.htm

Seven rescued, tree dead and three missing after ship capsized in Atlantic

On July 3, 2024, at 4.33 a.m. LT the 'Virgem Dolorosa', heading south after seine fishing, capsized two kilometres from the shore between São Pedro de Moel beach and Vieira beach, north of Lisbon, in the municipalitys of Marinha Grande. The vessel had been fishing along with six more vessels of the Figueira da Foz Producers Organization, when, from one moment to the next, it capsized. The wreck was then floating bottom up in the sea. The National Maritime Authority was alerted to the situation at about 4:30 a.m, with four other fishing vessels nearby immediately starting the search for survivors. The emergency response included maritime police and coast guard boats, who rushed to the scene. Two boats from the Nazaré and Figueira da Foz Lifeguard Station were mobilized, as well as an aerial surveillance team from the local Nazaré Maritime Police Command and an aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force. Rescuers from the “SeaWatch” Project, the National Maritime Authority, and the Forensic Diving Group of the Maritime Police also went to the site. Also four nearby fishing vessels immediately began searching for survivors. There were 17 crew members on board, 15 Portuguese and two Indonesians, aged between 30 and 50 years. 11 people were rescued, three more, two from Buarcos and one from Lavos, were recovered dead. Two of whom were taken to Nazaré, and one transported to shore aboard the 'Nossa Senhora da Lapa', from Figueira da Foz, which also picked up two crew members who were rescued alive. Three more fishermen were still missing. Seven of the rescued were admitted to the Figueira da Foz district hospital, one of whom was in serious condition. The most seriously injured person was 57 years old and will be transferred to the intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Coimbra (HUC) for respiratory problems. Most of the crew were Portuguese. Two Indonesian nationals were among those rescued. The SAR operation was continued with the help of an Airforce helicopter, a drone from Nazaré, and a diving team. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53r6GWT_EN4