WILLEMSTAD - Last week the Coast Guard patrol plane, the Dash 8, was engaged in a regular patrol flight when the crew saw a small fishing vessel with an improvised sail, with two people on board desperately waving. The Dash was at that time about 120 nautical miles North of Aruba. After reporting, the Rescue & Coordination Center (RCC) of the coastguard on Curaçao immediately contacted the station ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Sr. MS. Groningen, which is currently patrolling for the coastguard, with the request to send their helicopter to the indicated location to hoist the two people on board from their boat.
In the meantime, the RCC contacted the ship, S / V Tiarra, who was close by requesting to be ready to provide any assistance. This is awaiting the arrival of the station ship's helicopter. The police in Aruba have been informed of the situation by the RCC. They in turn contacted the ambulance service and the hospital.
The RCC then contacted the FDF to inquire about a previously received report of the disappearance of two fishermen who left with their fishing boat, PA SA TOUCHE, from July 7, 2019 to go fishing, but who had not returned. The fishermen were still missing. The description of the missing fishing boat corresponded to the one found by the Dash 8.