Foreign vessel rescues seven Lankan fishers from burning trawler

Bulk Carrier MV AFRICAN TURACO has rescued seven Sri Lankan fishers from a trawler that caught fire off the Galle Lighthouse, west of Sri Lanka, last Friday (11).The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), located at the Navy Headquarters, directed the Bulk Carrier to the fishing trawler, on fire, soon after Crude Oil Tanker MT SAIQ brought the situation to its notice.

According to Navy Headquarters the incident happened about 58 nautical miles (approximately 107 kms) off the Galle Lighthouse and those who had been rescued were brought to Galle harbor on Saturday (12) by SLNS Gajabahu. The Navy dispatched SLNS Gajabahu after having directed the nearby Bulk Carrier to the scene.

The ill-fated trawler Ruhunu Kumari 6 had left Wennappuwa on 08 August and was engaged in a routine fishing expedition when it caught fire.