MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Taiwanese fishing boat with 49 crew missing in the South Atlantic

Hsiang Fu Chun lost contact on Feb. 26, but Taiwanese officials believe the boat could still be in the region, probably without power (Pic T. Hogwood)

A Taiwanese fishing boat that has gone missing in waters off southeastern Argentina could have lost power, Fisheries Agency Deputy Director-General Huang Hung-yan said this weekend, about a week after the vessel was reported missing.

 No signs of wreckage or a notification of hijacking were sent by the Hsiang Fu Chun before it lost contact on Feb. 26, suggesting that the boat could still be in the region, probably without power, Huang said.

The Hsiang Fu Chu, which carries a crew of 49, was 1,700 nautical miles (3,148.4km) from the Falkland Islands when it last contacted its company at 3am that day, according to the agency. The boat’s Taiwanese captain reported at the time that the ship was taking in water, it said.

Besides the captain and another Taiwanese crew member, there were 11 Chinese, 21 Indonesian, 13 Filipino and two Vietnamese on board, the agency said.

It is difficult to send either an airplane or a boat to the rescue, as the vessel went missing far from land, in treacherous sea conditions, Huang said, adding that fuel for rescue aircraft would last for about 12 hours on average. However, it would take at least five hours to fly to the location where the boat went missing, and another five hours to return to base.

Huang said that the nation has been asking other countries for help through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the ministry, Taiwan’s representative office in the UK, which maintains sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, has sought help from British authorities and the EU Naval Force.

Its representative office in Argentina is also working with the Argentine Navy to search for the boat, the ministry said, adding that it immediately began rescue efforts upon receiving reports from the Fisheries Agency and the National Rescue Command Center.

Without power, it is likely that the Hsiang Fu Chun will remain adrift for at least two weeks before it reaches land, Huang said. The agency has also notified Taiwanese and foreign vessels in the region to help in the search for the missing fishing vessel.