On Sunday 4th August the Falkland Islands community came together in a moving memorial service for the crew of the lost Argos Georgia. The service was held at the Falkland Islands Defense Force Hall at 14:00 hours.
On Friday 26 July the Falklands Maritime Authority reported that in the afternoon of Thursday 25 July 2024, the two fishing vessels, the Falklands Robin M Lee and the Chilean Puerto Toro who were involved in the search and rescue operation of survivors from the Argos Georgia arrived into Stanley.
The tragedy of the longliner Argos Georgia plus the loss and disappearance of thirteen mariners, and the survival of fourteen, is headline news in Galicia with the city of Vigo declaring a day of mourning and the Spanish foreign minister announcing that an Air Force aircraft will be flying Friday to the Falkland Islands to pick up Spanish crew members.
The loss of the St Helena longliner Argos Georgia, some 170 miles from the Falkland Islands, and whatever is happening with the 27 members of its crew, mostly Spaniards from Galicia, tells a different far more tragic story of what is happening with rescue operations because of the extreme climate conditions, 35 knots wind and eight-meter tall waves.
The lastest update from the Falkland Islands Maritime Authority, Tuesday 23 July, 2024 approximately 15:00 hours Falklands time, said that on Monday 22 July 2024, the Maritime Authority received information that the fishing vessel Argos Georgia, with 27 persons onboard, was taking on water and requesting assistance some 200 miles east of Stanley.
The Falkland Islands Maritime Authority reported early Tuesday morning that longliner Argos Georgia had been lost but fortunately, all 27 crew members were able to take to life rafts, and the rescue operation is now surface-centered in recovering the dispersed rafts in extreme weather conditions but with overwatch coverage.
A major rescue operation is underway to the east of the Falkland Islands to help a fishing vessel in distress. On Monday afternoon the Falkland Islands Maritime Authority received information that the fishing vessel Argos Georgia, with 27 persons onboard, was taking on water and requesting assistance some 200 miles east of Stanley.
The Falkland Islands government Chief Executive, Andy Keeling in an open statement has thanked all those involved in the response to the Sea Lion Island fire since Friday 8 March.
The Falkland Islands Government is preparing a very fond farewell to FPV Protegat, her crew and all at Galfishing Ltd following the completion of their contract to provide the fishery patrol vessel for the Falkland Islands. Precisely this month the state of the art FPV Lilibet, after a long trip from Vietnam, where she was built, has taken over the patrolling tasks in the Islands EEZ.
On Wednesday 26 April the brand new Fishery Patrol Vessel, FPV Lilibet was formally handed over to the Falkland Islands Government and will assume her duties on Monday 1 May 2023.