The operation took place late at night and under adverse weather conditions.
A surface unit of the Colombian Navy rescued three Ecuadorian fishermen, who had been adrift in the waters of the Pacific Ocean for five days, since the boat in which they set sail from Salinas - Ecuador to conduct fishing, presented failures in its engines. The people were found by troops 114 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador.
The search and rescue operation began after the Ocean Patrol Ship ARC Victoria detected a radar contact while transiting Ecuadorian waters, taking Valparaíso - Chile as its destination. After approaching the point, the crew saw three people making signals, so they proceeded to lower machines and provide support in the emergency at sea.
After several maneuvers, the Colombian sailors took care of the three men, holding the fishing boat in the emergency to the side of the ship, in order to provide them with first aid and verify their state of health. Among the crew of this Ecuadorian lobster boat, named Mar del Plata, an adult over 60 years of age was found.
The Naval Institution proceeded to contact and coordinate with the operations center of the Navy of Ecuador, who stationed Coast Guard units to a rendezvous point in the Pacific Ocean. The fishermen and the boat were handed over to the Ecuadorian authorities, who took them to a safe port in their country.
Source: Press – Navy of Colombia
