9 Crew Members Rescued from Sinking Tugboat Off The Argentine Coast

The Argentine Naval Prefecture rescued nine crew members from the tugboat Papu Mar after it began sinking unexpectedly while sailing along the Río de la Plata toward Montevideo.

The incident took place at kilometer 77 in the Paso Banco Chico Channel, off the coast of Atalaya, Buenos Aires.

According to authorities, the Paraguayan-flagged tugboat suddenly began taking in water through its stern.

The captain of the vessel reported the emergency immediately and made a mayday call to the Prefecture.

With the vessel flooding rapidly, the crew abandoned ship and took refuge on the container barge that Papu Mar was towing.

The barge, which is carrying 153 containers, remained stable during the crisis.

The Argentine Naval Prefecture quickly dispatched emergency response teams to the scene.

All nine crew members were rescued and transported to the Port of La Plata for medical checkups.

Officials confirmed that there were no injuries or casualties among the crew.

The tugboat remains partially submerged in the water.

However, the Naval Prefecture has confirmed that it does not pose a threat to vessels using the main international shipping route in the area.

The barge is still securely attached to the tugboat, and no cargo losses or damage have been reported.

Specialised personnel have been deployed to monitor the scene and ensure maritime safety.

Surveillance of the area is ongoing, and overflights are being conducted to check for any possible environmental damage caused by the incident.

The tugboat Ona Don Lorenzo is assisting in the operation by helping keep the barge stable and preventing it from drifting into the navigation channel, which could pose a danger to passing vessels.

This is the second such emergency response in recent days by the Argentine Naval Prefecture.

Their swift actions ensured the safety of the Papu Mar crew and helped prevent a larger maritime crisis on one of South America’s busiest waterways.

Reference: argentina.gob.ar

Source: Maritime Shipping News