As reported by Faro de Vigo, a tragic incident off the coast of Nouadhibou, Mauritania, has left five sailors unaccounted for following a collision between two fishing vessels on Friday evening. This unfortunate event has triggered extensive search and rescue efforts.
The collision involved the 105-meter factory ship Right Whale, registered under the Gambian flag, and the freezer trawler Tafra 3 from Mauritania. Remarkably calm sea conditions and clear skies prevailed at the time of the accident.
Video evidence shared by Spanish media shows that as Tafra 3 was engaged in fishing operations with its trawl cables trailing behind, it was struck on its starboard side by the bow of Right Whale. The impact caused both vessels to remain entangled momentarily before separating; however, Tafra 3 sustained significant damage with a large gash running from its main deck down through its hull.
The vessel quickly began to list to starboard and sank stern-first into approximately 50 meters of water. The rapid sinking prevented crew members from deploying liferafts effectively; these were later released automatically due to hydrostatic activation.
Out of 26 crew members aboard Tafra 3, 21 were rescued—this group included three Spaniards: two captains and an engineer—as well as at least one Russian sailor. One Spanish survivor required stitches for a head injury sustained during the incident. Unfortunately, five sailors remain missing; all are reported to be Mauritanian nationals including one officer.
The local coastguard promptly dispatched patrol boats to lead search operations supported by nearby fishing vessels and aerial assistance from a Spanish helicopter. Despite ongoing efforts throughout the weekend, no sign of the missing crew had been found as per recent updates.
Footage captured during this distressing event also depicted crew members aboard Tafra 3 scrambling for safety amidst chaos—some even climbing onto nets during impact. Observers noted that rigging slats on Tafra 3’s stern may have hindered maneuverability while at least two crew members were actively managing gear when disaster struck.
In response to this grave situation, authorities confirmed that both captain and first officer of Right Whale have been detained pending investigation by local law enforcement officials. Meanwhile, after providing their accounts regarding what transpired during this tragic event, survivors’ skipper returned to his hotel where others are being accommodated post-rescue.
Citing reports from Galician authorities reveals that among those rescued were two captains hailing from Marín in Galicia along with an engineer originating from Huelva. Consular services are currently coordinating arrangements for their repatriation; one skipper is expected to travel first to Canary Islands before returning homeward towards Galicia.
