A seafarer was seriously injured after falling into a cargo hold aboard a container ship at the Port of Algeciras on Saturday morning, prompting an urgent rescue operation by Spain’s maritime safety agency, Salvamento Marítimo.
The incident occurred at around 08:30 a.m. when the Algeciras Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a distress call from the container ship Leto.
According to reports, one of the crewmembers had fallen approximately 16 feet into the vessel’s hold, sustaining serious injuries and requiring immediate assistance.
A helicopter evacuation was initially considered for the injured seafarer but was deemed too risky due to cargo obstructing access above the hold. Salvamento Marítimo instead dispatched its local search and rescue vessel, Salvamar Denébola, to carry out the rescue.
Upon reaching the vessel, the Denébola’s crew used a crane to lift the injured seafarer safely from the hold and transferred them to the rescue boat for transport to shore.
Within two hours of the initial call, the injured seafarer was handed over to local emergency medical services in serious but conscious condition for further treatment.
Maritime observers noted that the Salvamar Denébola, based at Algeciras, frequently handles such emergencies due to its strategic positioning near the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. They added that the vessel’s quick response often plays a crucial role in saving lives at sea.
The Denébola has previously participated in several high-profile rescue operations in the region, including responses to collisions involving the OS 35 and Adam LNG, the HMM St. Petersburg and Gloria Maris, and the Southern Puma and Louisa Bolten. Its continued presence highlights its importance in Spain’s coastal emergency response system.
Reference: nauticalnova
