MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine trawler catches fire and sinks: two missing

An Argentine flagged trawler which caught fire and was being towed to Comodoro Rivadavia went down Friday with two seamen unaccounted for, reports the Argentine Coast Guard.

Fire broke out in the fishing vessel "Carlos Alvarez" 160 kilometres offshore Comodoro and most of the thirty members of the crew were rescued by another vessel from the company, "Antonio Alvarez" with air support from the Argentine Coast Guard.

"Carlos Alvarez" was 36 metres long and 9.50 wide and belonged to Conarpesa one of Patagonia's most important fishing companies.

The Coast Guard has yet to inform details of the fire but survivors said it started at stern and rapidly spread to the engine room and cabins.

As to the two missing seamen, "they either were trapped in the engine room or jumped overboard", said a spokesperson for the Coast Guard.

Apparently the captain's quick reaction and call for help plus the fact several other vessels were operating in the area was crucial in rescuing the crew.

The Argentine press reports that Continental Armadores de Pesca has interests in Chubut, Puerto Madryn, Puerto Deseado, employs 1.100 people and has a fleet of 48 vessels.

The company is jointly owned by Spanish interests and a local family, Alvarez Castellanos.