Discover the Gioia-Mia: Ratings & Maritime News

On July 21, 2017, a maritime tragedy unfolded in the Strait of Gibraltar when an unidentified merchant vessel collided with the Moroccan fishing vessel "Chahid M" approximately 17 nautical miles north of Ceuta. The Spanish maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, swiftly dispatched the "Salvamar Atria" from its base in Ceuta to the scene of the accident. Responding to an urgent distress call, the "Salvamar Atria" successfully rescued four crew members from the water while also recovering the body of the fishing boat's master. The helicopter Helimer 220, stationed in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), also participated in the operation following the alert received at the Tarifa base. The unfortunate incident occurred after the "Chahid M," which had set sail from Tangier, was struck and subsequently sank after spending several hours adrift. The fishing vessel's distress was first detected by the nearby "Ginostra M," which took immediate action by rescuing three individuals from the water, while two others, including the deceased master, remained unaccounted for in the sea. All rescued individuals were transferred aboard the "Salvamar Atria" and escorted to the Ceuta base, arriving around 7:30 p.m. A dedicated team from the Red Cross was on hand at the base to provide psychological support to the fishermen after their harrowing experience. The corpse of the deceased was subsequently handed over to a coroner for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. This maritime incident sheds light on the importance of swift rescue operations in preserving human lives in the unpredictable maritime environment.