French trawler Maranello sinks off Plymouth; two crew members remain missing

A French-registered fishing trawler, the Maranello, sent a distress call at 18:00 BST on Saturday after reporting a problem with its fishing gear. The vessel was located about 26 nautical miles southwest of Plymouth, in waters under British responsibility. The nearby trawler Stradale responded, rescuing three of the five crew members before the Maranello sank. One rescued sailor was air-lifted by a helicopter to Truro Hospital for treatment; the other two were taken to Plymouth for medical attention.

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) activated a multi-agency search that involved a coastguard rescue helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft, RNLI lifeboats from Falmouth, Plymouth, Newlyn and Salcombe, and a large number of civilian vessels. The French Navy contributed a Falcon 50 aircraft. The Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) directed the effort in partnership with French counterparts. After intensive searching on Sunday, the operation was suspended pending further information, and on Monday the MCA announced that the coastguard element of the search had been formally concluded.

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The MCA spokesperson emphasized that “extensive and intensive” searches had been carried out since Saturday night but that “no trace” of the two missing fishermen had been found. The agency cited the limits of human survivability in the water temperature as the basis for ending the coastguard search. French authorities, through the naval prefecture for the Atlantic, confirmed the vessel’s name, the successful rescue of three crew members by the Stradale, and the deployment of the Falcon 50 to assist.

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“Based on all the information available and the known limits of human survivability in the water temperature, the decision has been taken this morning that the coastguard element of the search for the two missing fishermen has now been officially concluded.” — The MCA

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