Trinidad and Tobago seeks help to find six fishermen lost after boat fire

Trinidad and Tobago authorities have issued an urgent plea to the maritime community for assistance in searching for six fishermen who have been missing for six days following a fire on their vessel. The missing crew includes four Trinidadians, one Vincentian, and the Guyanese captain.

Regional maritime authorities have specifically called on commercial ships operating in the waters between Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil to aid in the search for the 'St Vincent VII'. The vessel is currently unaccounted for and has been out of communication since the incident.

The 'St Vincent VII', owned by Renata Enterprises Ltd, departed from the Tardieu Marine shipyard in Chaguaramas on July 6. The six fishermen aboard are specialized in catching yellowfin tuna. According to the families of the missing men, the fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time on July 13 while the boat was fishing near the maritime border between Suriname and French Guiana.

It is believed that the vessel is now inoperable and adrift, carried by strong winds and ocean currents. Despite the challenging circumstances, the families of the crew members remain hopeful for their safe rescue.