The «Thalassa» fishing vessel sank this Saturday, around 6:45 am, at the entrance to the port of Baleeira, in Sagres, and its only crew member, a 62-year-old man, was rescued alive by the Sagres lifeguard. .
Although the causes of the shipwreck are still unknown, the Sul Informação he found out on the spot that the fishing boat's master and only crew member, a small trawler registered in Sesimbra but heading for Portimão, had been confused by the dense fog that this morning fell over that part of the coast.
The vessel, instead of leaving the port, ended up turning right still inside the port area, ending up hitting some rocks near Praia do Martinhal, next to which it ended up sinking, in an area very close to the coast and with a depth that will not exceed three meters.
The Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center received the request for help at 6:45 am, via radio, and the captain of the Port of Lagos immediately activated the rescue equipment, according to information from the Navy.
The searches ended up being hampered by the same “dense fog” and the “critical access to the place next to the rocks” where the crew member was.
The castaway was rescued at 7:42 am, having been assisted on land by an INEM team. At the time of the shipwreck, which must have been due to a navigation error, the sea was perfectly calm.
Although the Navy informed, at 12:30 pm, that «the towing of the damaged vessel to the port of Baleeira is currently taking place», the boat remained this afternoon sunk a short distance from Praia do Martinhal. Some of its materials and equipment, such as boxes and buoys, washed ashore in that same area.
The Maritime Police is monitoring the entire process in order to investigate the causes of the shipwreck.
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues/Sul Informação
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