A new search area in the Atlantic Ocean yesterday failed to produce any evidence of three Noble House Seafoods fishermen or the vessel ‘World Friend 307’ that they were on.
Maritime Administration Director of Safety, Captain John Flores yesterday told Stabroek News that a search above the surface yesterday did not provide any credible information even as the sonar would have detected objects.
He explained that the team will have to analyse the data collected on the computer and determine the way forward.
Harold Anthony Damon, 45, Captain of the vessel; Ronald Burton, 78; and Winston Sam, 46, of McDoom, East Bank Demerara went missing two Saturdays ago.
Vincent Dazzell, the lone survivor, after making his way to shore on February 19 informed the company and family members of the missing crewmen of what had occurred.
He had told the wife of Damon that just after 6 am on Saturday, February 19, the captain woke up the crew members and instructed that they check the boat. The checks revealed that the engine room and other parts of the boat were taking in water.
This prompted the Captain to radio the company and lodge a report on what was transpiring. As the boat began to take in more water, Dazzell related that they were instructed to lower the lifeboat and get in. However, he told her that her husband jumped back on to the vessel in a bid to retrieve his phone. It is unclear what occurred after that.
“He tell me the boat drop and he went down and drank water and catch cramp all and blacked out but he was rescued by a fishing boat and they search for about three hours before returning to shore…when they meet, he said the men who rescued him gave him a bus fare and he come and tell the company,” Damon’s wife recounted.
She pointed out that while Dazzell said that he returned during the course of the afternoon of February 19, it was around minutes to 7 pm that night they learnt of the tragedy.
