MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Misty” sunken gold and silver plot in the South Atlantic

Fishing vessel Polar Mist

A fantastic story about a Chilean fishing vessel allegedly loaded with seven tons of Argentine gold and silver which sinks because of a storm during a dubious rescue operation close to the east access of the Magellan strait, has become a best selling title of the Buenos Aires press.

Apparently the incident occurred last January 16, involving the fishing vessel Polar Mist which regularly transported gold and silver extracted from mines in the Patagonian Santa Cruz province to Punta Arenas, Valparaiso for final destination in Switzerland. A strong South Atlantic storm forced the crew of seven to abandon Polar Mist to be rescued from the sea, wearing special thermal suits, by the Argentine Coast Guard. And here begin the suspicious actions which could lead to imagine an incredible plot. To avoid fuel contamination Polar Mist was left with engines running, in circles, hopefully to consume the fuel and avoid the heavy oil from leaking into the sea. However a few hours later a helicopter from the Argentine Coast Guard detects another Chilean vessel, the tug "Beagle" which approached Polar Mist and begins pulling her heading for Punta Arenas, apparently with rescue purposes. But Beagle, pulling the Polar Mist, is instructed to head for Rio Gallegos, but that night the tug reports that the fishing vessel begun listing and went down at 23:00 hours, approximately 40 kilometres offshore from Punta Loyola and the lighthouse of cape Virgenes. A judicial investigation was started at the Rio Gallegos federal court and no vessel can approach the area where Polar Mist reportedly went down. "She was carrying 6.900 kilos mined from Cerro Vanguardia, 10% gold and the rest silver", revealed Miguel Ferro, president of Fomicruz, the mining company which belongs 7% to the province of Santa Cruz. The cargo was completed with more gold from the Triton mines. However, although insured none of the mining officials interviewed revealed the value of the cargo, alleging they didn't want to interfere with the investigation. Anyhow it is possible to estimate the value in several million US dollars. Formicruz did reveal that the maritime operation via Chile has been ongoing for over six years and this was the first incident, (accident?) to happen. The judicial investigation involves the two captains, of the sunken vessel and from the rescue tug, plus the head of the Coast Guard command in Rio Gallegos which has a satellite system for monitoring vessels and maritime traffic plus visual over-flights with helicopters and patrol planes for the follow up of the valuable cargo. According to Chilean press reports the insurance company has begun contacts with a Punta Arenas diving and logistics company with the purpose of checking the sunken fishing vessel and its cargo. The company by the name of Nautilus apparently also is handy with underwater robots, which have been used for similar jobs. But before any rescue operation can be undertaken the contracted Chilean company will have to present a re-floating plan to the Argentine Coast Guard, plus a judicial order from an Argentine court authorizing the operation. And since its Argentine jurisdiction, the Coast Guard must be present at all times.