Spanish trawler sank off East London

[Timsen]

36 crew members were rescued after a Spanish fishing vessel caught fire and sank off the east coast of southern Africa on July 8. The Durban-based fishing vessel "Galaxy" rescued the crew. It was assisted by the "Niko Maru No 1" from Walvis Bay. There had been a satellite distress alert from the "Galaecia", which was about 872 nautical miles east of East London. The MRCC in Reunion then heard via radio from the crew that the vessel was on fire. Just before 03:30 the MRCC Cape Town found out the crew were abandoning the burning ship and boarding life-rafts. Another Spanish fishing vessel, "Valencia", was assisting them. MRCC Cape Town helped MRCC Reunion make radio contact with the "Valencia" through Cape Town Radio which obtained a satellite phone number from the ship. The MRCC Cape Town was then asked by the Reunion branch to initiate a Mayday relay broadcast to ask all vessels in the area to help the sinking "Galaecia" causing the Durban-based fishing vessel "Galaxy" and the "Niko Maru No1" from Walvis Bay went to assist. The "Galaecia" was still burning and slowly began to sink.