The conservation group Sea Shepherd reported receiving a distress signal from the poaching vessel Thunder today, saying that the ship is sinking inside the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sao Tome, the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker answered the distress call issued by the captain of the Thunder, and found that 35 crewmembers had abandoned the ship and were in life rafts.
Sea Shepherd confirmed that the Thunder appeared to be taking on water.
The Bob Barker is currently coordinating a search and rescue operation.
Captain Peter Hammarstedt of the Bob Barker said: ”We have received a distress call from the Thunder. It appears as though the ship and crew are in a serious situation. The Captain of the Thunder has radioed us and said their ship is sinking. We have launched our small boat and are doing everything we can to assist.”
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Image: Sea Shepherd