FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT PRESS STATEMENT
Update: Incident involving FV ARGOS GEORGIA
July 24, 2024
On Monday 22 July 2024 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. At 4pm local time on Monday 22 July 2024 the crew of the vessel were forced to abandon ship.
Throughout this time the Falkland Islands Government, Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, HQ British Forces South Atlantic Islands, the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the fishing vessel company and other fishing vessels at sea, have been working closely with one another to support a rescue mission to all those on the vessel.
On Tuesday 23 July 2024, 14 crew members were rescued. 13 crew members will arrive into Stanley today on FPV Lilibet and they will be medically assessed by the team from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. One crew member was rescued by one of the other vessels in the area and will return to Stanley in due course.
We can confirm that, so far, the bodies of 9 crew members have been recovered and 4 remain missing. Their Next of Kin have been contacted by the fishing vessel company.
The Falkland Islands Government send their thoughts and condolences to all the families involved.
Due to consideration of all circumstances, including the weather conditions forecasted and the safety of those involved in operations, the decision has been made to stop the search and rescue efforts. A further recovery effort will be made to find those still at sea as soon as this is practicable.
We would to thank everyone involved in this search and rescue effort.
All enquires to Falkland Islands Government.
