What Crew Members Say About Mar-De-Galicia

In a critical response to an environmental threat, the National Police and Customs officials deployed a containment barrier following the unfortunate sinking of the fishing vessel 'Nueva Santa Irene' near O Grove, Pontevedra, which was transporting 11 tons of diesel on February 10. The incident caused alarm as fuel drums onboard fell into the water when the vessel capsized. A surveillance flight conducted by the Helimer HS401 helicopter, based in Santiago de Compostela, confirmed on February 11 that there were no signs of pollution in the Arousa estuary after an extensive aerial search around 6:00 p.m., covering areas between O Grove, Illa de Arousa, and central estuary near Vilanova. The 'Nueva Santa Irene,' which set sail from Rianxo port, A Coruña, around midday on February 10, raised concerns when the Emergency Services received an alert at approximately 6:30 p.m. A witness reported sighting an overturned boat adjacent to a mussel raft, indicating that the crew had evacuated to safety. Municipal Emergency Services reported that the vessel capsized while loading, allowing the crew to escape onto a raft without injuries before the boat sank entirely. The local emergency boat successfully rescued the three crew members. In response, Salvamento Marítimo, the Vilagarcía Maritime Authority, and the Galician Coast Guard mobilized for immediate assistance. Initially believed to be engaged in mussel farming, the presence of multiple diesel drums prompted further investigations. By the afternoon of February 11, Civil Guard underwater specialists arrived at the scene to inspect the wreck. They also launched an inquiry into potential drug trafficking connections involving the 'bateiro.' Reports indicated that the mussel boat was not legally permitted to operate, capsizing near the Punta Moreiras sculpture complex without any fishing gear onboard and lacking certified crew capable of maritime operations. The crew consisted of two Rianxo residents suspected of drug connections and a foreign individual with limited Spanish language skills. In the following days, the SAR boat 'Salvamar Sargadelos' and the 'Mar de Galicia' from the Galician Coast Guard engaged in operations at the shipwreck site. On the morning of February 11, Galician Coast Guard personnel were on-site at the Meloxo port to manage the diesel containment efforts and remove the deployed containment boom.

Early in the morning on May 14, 2025, the Spanish fishing boat 'Nuevo Mariña', measuring 8.76 meters in length, erupted into flames over three nautical miles off the coast of Monte Louro. The emergency occurred just after 6:15 a.m. when two crew members, twin brothers Santiago and Alberto Castro Romero, found themselves in a precarious situation. Santiago, serving as the vice-captain of the Fisterra fishing guild, and his brother Alberto faced severe danger as the fire quickly engulfed their vessel. Fortunately, they were swiftly rescued by another fishing boat named 'La Chainza' from Porto do Son. The local maritime rescue agency, Salvamento Marítimo, coordinated the emergency response through the CCS Finisterre and dispatched the 'Salvamar Régulus' to assist. The brothers were successfully transferred to safety, with Alberto sustaining burns to his face and hands. He was urgently airlifted to the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC) to receive specialized treatment in the Burns Unit. Santiago, who owns the 'Nuevo Mariña', was taken to Barbanza Hospital but was later released after being treated for minor injuries. In a harrowing account of the incident, Santiago mentioned that they had little time to react after noticing smoke from the engine; the fire spread alarmingly fast, forcing them to launch their liferaft in a hurry. Despite the efforts of the 'Mar de Galicia' to extinguish the blaze, they ultimately reported that the fiberglass fishing vessel had sunk. The incident involved the collaboration of multiple rescue services, including the Galician Health Emergency Service-061, the Galician Coast Guard Service, and the Civil Guard. Although officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, a short circuit is currently suspected. In response to the emergency, the Xunta (Galician Regional Government) activated the Territorial Contingency Plan for Accidental Marine Pollution in Galicia (Camgal) at its mid-level due to the significant diesel spill from the 'Nuevo Mariña's' sinking. Regional Minister of the Sea, Alfonso Villares, reached out to Government Delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, to request the activation of the National Maritime Plan, which has been put into effect at the alert phase.